NewzIntel.com

    • Checkout Page
    • Contact Us
    • Default Redirect Page
    • Frontpage
    • Home-2
    • Home-3
    • Lost Password
    • Member Login
    • Member LogOut
    • Member TOS Page
    • My Account
    • NewzIntel Alert Control-Panel
    • NewzIntel Latest Reports
    • Post Views Counter
    • Privacy Policy
    • Public Individual Page
    • Register
    • Subscription Plan
    • Thank You Page

Category: Tourism

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cabinet approves development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, Gujarat.

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 3:16PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.  The project will be completed in two phases.

    The Cabinet also accorded in-principle approval for  Phase 1B and Phase 2, as per master plan by raising funds through voluntary resources/ contributions and their execution after raising of the funds.

    Construction of Light House Museum under Phase 1B will be funded by Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL).

    A separate society will be set up, for development of future phases, to be governed by a Governing Council headed by Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, under Societies Registration Act, 1860 for implementation, development, management, and operation of NMHC at Lothal, Gujarat.

    The phase 1A of the project is under implementation with more than 60% physical progress and is planned to be completed by 2025.  Phases 1A and 1B of the project are to be developed in EPC mode and Phase 2 of project will be developed through land subleasing/ PPP to establish NMHC as a world class heritage museum. 

    Major impact, including employment generation potential:

    Around 22,000 jobs are expected be created in development of NMHC project, with 15,000 direct employment and 7,000 indirect employment. 

    No. of beneficiaries:

    The implementation of NMHC will boost growth and  immensely help the local communities, tourists and visitors, researchers and scholars, government bodies, educational institutions, cultural organisations, environment and conservation groups, businesses. 

    Background:

    As per the vision of the Prime Minister to showcase 4,500 years old maritime heritage of India, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterway (MoPSW) is setting up a world class National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal.

    The masterplan of the NMHC has been prepared by renowned architecture firm M/s Architect Hafeez Contractor and the construction of phase 1A has been entrusted to Tata Projects Ltd.

    NMHC is planned to be developed in various phases, wherein:

    • Phase 1A will have NMHC museum with 6 galleries, which also includes an Indian Navy & Coast Guard gallery envisaged to be one of the largest in the country with external naval artefacts (INS Nishank, Sea Harrier war aircraft, UH3 helicopter etc.), replica model of Lothal township surrounded by open aquatic gallery, and jetty walkway.
    • Phase 1B will have NMHC museum with 8 more galleries, Light house museum which is planned to be world’s tallest, Bagicha complex (with car parking facility for about 1500 cars, food hall, medical centre, etc.).
    • Phase 2 will have Coastal States Pavilions (to be developed by respective coastal states and union territories), Hospitality zone (with maritime theme eco resort and museuotels), Recreation of real time Lothal City, Maritime institute and hostel and 4 theme based parks (Maritime & Naval Theme Park, Climate Change Theme Park, Monuments Park and Adventure & Amusement Park). 

    ***

    MJPS/BM/SKS

    (Release ID: 2063454) Visitor Counter : 35

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKSAR Government and Ministry of Commerce sign Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, witnessed the signing of the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Agreement on Trade in Services (Amendment Agreement II) by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, and Deputy China International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce Ms Li Yongjie today (October 9).     “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its care and support for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). I also thank the Ministry of Commerce and relevant authorities for actively working towards the HKSAR Government’s proposal of further opening up the Mainland market to Hong Kong in trade in services. The Amendment Agreement II introduces new liberalisation measures across different service sectors where Hong Kong enjoys competitive advantages, making it easier for Hong Kong service suppliers to establish enterprises and develop business on the Mainland, enabling more Hong Kong professionals to obtain qualifications to practise on the Mainland, allowing more of Hong Kong’s quality services to be provided to the Mainland market, and contributing to and serving the country’s development. The HKSAR Government will continue to encourage different sectors of the community to leverage the unique advantages of ‘one country, two systems’ and join hands with their counterparts on the Mainland to promote the competitiveness of the professional services sector, in order to inject new impetus to economic development and achieve high-quality development,” said Mr Lee.     The HKSAR Government and the Ministry of Commerce signed the Agreement on Trade in Services (Services Agreement) under the framework of CEPA in November 2015 to basically achieve liberalisation of trade in services between the Mainland and Hong Kong. The two sides signed an agreement in November 2019 to amend the Services Agreement and add new liberalisation measures that have been implemented since June 2020. To further enhance liberalisation and facilitate trade in services in response to the aspirations of the Hong Kong business community for greater participation in the development of the Mainland market, the two sides agreed to make further amendments to the Services Agreement and signed the new agreement today.     The Amendment Agreement II introduces new liberalisation measures across several service sectors where Hong Kong enjoys competitive advantages, such as financial services, construction and related engineering services, testing and certification, telecommunications, motion pictures, television and tourism services. The liberalisation measures take various forms, including removing or relaxing restrictions on equity shareholding and business scope in the establishment of enterprises; relaxing qualification requirements for Hong Kong professionals providing services; and easing restrictions on Hong Kong’s exports of services to the Mainland market. Most of the liberalisation measures apply to the whole Mainland, while some of them are designated for pilot implementation in the nine Pearl River Delta municipalities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Examples are as follows:(1) Construction and related engineering services: To allow Hong Kong general practice surveying enterprises to provide professional services in Guangdong Province through filing of records; and to allow Hong Kong engineering construction consultant enterprises that have completed filing of records to bid for consultancy services projects in joint venture in compliance with the laws in the nine Pearl River Delta municipalities in the GBA;(2) Motion pictures: To remove the restriction on investment in enterprises engaging in film production by Hong Kong service suppliers; and to allow enterprises established by Hong Kong service suppliers and approved by the relevant Mainland authorities to operate distribution of imported buy-out Hong Kong motion pictures;(3) Television: To remove the quantitative restriction on Hong Kong people participating as principal creative personnel in online television dramas; and to allow imported dramas produced in Hong Kong to be broadcast during prime time in television stations on the Mainland after obtaining approval from the National Radio and Television Administration;(4) Tourism services: To optimise the implementation of the 144-hour visa-exemption policy for foreign group tours entering Guangdong from Hong Kong through increasing the number of inbound control points and expanding the stay areas to the whole of Guangdong Province, and to provide facilitation for Mainland travel agents when receiving group tours at West Kowloon Station of the High Speed Rail; and to support cruise companies to arrange international cruise itineraries involving port-of-call in the Mainland cruise ports in accordance with the laws. In respect of Mainland visitors participating in such cruise itineraries, they can travel to Hong Kong in transit to join all sorts of cruise itineraries, by presenting their passports and confirmation documents of the relevant cruise itineraries; and(5) Financial services: To remove the asset requirement of not less than US$2 billion as at the end of the most recent year for Hong Kong financial institutions investing in shares of insurance companies; to remove the restriction prohibiting foreign bank branches established by Hong Kong service suppliers from conducting bank cards services; to consider extending the scope of eligible products under the mutual market access programme by including REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts); to continuously promote and enhance the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Pilot Scheme and the Mainland-Hong Kong Mutual Recognition of Funds scheme; and to continuously promote the cross listing arrangement of the Mainland and Hong Kong ETF (open-ended index-tracking exchange-traded funds) as well as enhance Southbound Trading and Northbound Trading under Bond Connect.     In addition, the Amendment Agreement II brings institutional innovation and collaboration enhancement, including:(1) Addition of “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to adopt Hong Kong law” and “allowing Hong Kong-invested enterprises to choose for arbitration to be seated in Hong Kong” as facilitation measures for Hong Kong investors, supporting Hong Kong-invested enterprises registered in the pilot municipalities of the GBA to adopt Hong Kong law or Macao law as the applicable law in their contracts; as well as supporting Hong Kong-invested enterprises registered in the nine Pearl River Delta municipalities in the GBA to choose Hong Kong or Macao as the seat of arbitration. The measures provide flexibility and convenience for Hong Kong enterprises, facilitating their investment and business development on the Mainland;(2) Addition of commitments regarding domestic regulation to ensure transparency, predictability and efficiency of regulations on trade in services, so as to align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, cutting red tape and lowering trade costs when enterprises supply their services in a market to facilitate trade in services; and(3) Removal of the period requirement on Hong Kong service suppliers to engage in substantive business operations in Hong Kong for three years in most service sectors, allowing Hong Kong start-ups to enjoy the preferential treatment under CEPA in a shorter time and attracting enterprises and talent from around the world to establish a presence in Hong Kong and explore the Mainland market, thus increasing local employment, promoting Hong Kong’s economic development and giving full play to Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”.     The Amendment Agreement II will be implemented on March 1, 2025. Details and the latest information on CEPA are available on the Trade and Industry Department website at http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/index.html.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Remarks by FS at media session after Signing Ceremony of Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to CEPA Agreement on Trade in Services (with photo/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following are the remarks by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at a media session after the Signing Ceremony of the Second Agreement Concerning Amendment to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Agreement on Trade in Services today (October 9):
     
    Reporter: How would you quantify the impact of this amendment on Hong Kong’s economy, and how should Hong Kongers grasp this opportunity? And secondly, why is film included in this round of amendments? Can you cite examples of how the film industry can benefit from the liberalised measures? Thank you very much.
     
    Financial Secretary: The further liberalisation measures under the CEPA Amendment Agreement will enable Hong Kong firms and professional sectors to go into the Mainland market a lot easier. With the reduced threshold, reduced qualification requirements, and expanded scope of liberalisation, depending on specific sectors, the progress will be different, but I am sure for the professional sectors, people are very keen to expand their foothold into the Mainland by using the Greater Bay Area as the starting point. This will create a very positive impact on Hong Kong. As to the specific examples, in the Amendment Agreement, certain industries will be directly benefitting from it, including the testing and certification sector, telecommunications, films, television, financial services and tourism. We will be communicating with the different sectors and working with the different stakeholders to move as fast as possible to work out the various implementation details, so that businesses and professionals in Hong Kong would find it more convenient to expand into the Mainland market. Thank you.
     
    (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)   

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New visitor facilities opened at Grandtully

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The development, made possible through a £375,000 award from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), aims to improve the experience of visitors to the Grandtully Station Park and the surrounding area.

    It aims to support sustainable tourism while minimising its impact on local communities, in line with Perth and Kinross Council’s Tourism Action Plan.

    The new facilities represent a collaborative effort between Perth and Kinross Council, Paddle Scotland (formerly the Scottish Canoe Association) and 12 other funding partners.

    The project aims to address the growing pressure on local infrastructure due to increasing visitor numbers in rural Scotland.

    The opening marks the completion of Phase 2, while Phase 3 has received additional funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for an education centre focused on water safety and outdoor skills training.

    This £1.3 million project has been driven by extensive consultation with the local community, which identified key issues such as car parking shortages and a lack of visitor facilities.

    Key features of the new facilities include:

    • An additional 40 car parking spaces to accommodate increased visitor traffic.
    • Accessible facilities, including six accessible toilets and a state-of-the-art ‘Changing Places Toilet’.
    • Toilets, showers, and changing rooms available for day visitors and campers alike.
    • Enhanced camping options and an active travel hub to promote sustainable tourism and reduce inappropriate camping.
    • Installation of six fast electric vehicle (EV) charging points, as well as a campervan service point.
    • Improved visitor information, including interpretation signage and a bike shelter with a maintenance point.

    Carol Anderson, General Manager of Grandtully Station Park, and Roger Holmes, Development Manager of the project, have worked closely with stakeholders to ensure the facilities support local needs.

    Councillor Jack Welch, Depute Convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “The launch of the new Grandtully Visitor Management Facilities is a fantastic step forward for sustainable tourism in our region.

    “By enhancing accessibility and improving infrastructure, this development ensures that both visitors and the local community benefit.

    “The collaborative effort behind this project, supported by the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, reflects our commitment to balancing tourism growth with community needs. It’s a great example of how we can manage increased visitor numbers while protecting and preserving the character of rural areas like Grandtully.”

    Stephen Leckie, Chair of VisitScotland, said: “It’s a pleasure to support the official opening of these new facilities at Grandtully.

    “VisitScotland is focused on the responsible growth of tourism and events. To be a sustainable tourism destination, we need to ensure the right facilities are in place to cater for the ever-changing expectations of both visitors and residents. Community engagement is a key part of delivering our goal and the project at Grandtully is a fantastic example of how working together to improve the infrastructure can help both visitors and residents alike.

    “The new facilities will help alleviate pressure on parking, improve accessibility, and encourage visitors to get out and about and explore the area on bike or foot. All improvements that will help support responsible tourism and the long-term sustainability of the Perthshire destination.”

    Stuart Smith, chief executive of Paddle Scotland, emphasised the project’s focus on providing Paddlesport opportunities for all, in addition to contributing to the overall visitor experience.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: UN extends Kenyan policing mission in Haiti in futile attempt to tackle gangs

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amalendu Misra, Professor of International Politics, Lancaster University

    Haiti is being choked to death by its 200 or so violent criminal gangs. The latest figures to be released by the UN suggest that more than 3,600 people have been killed in the country since January, including over 100 children, while more than 500,000 Haitians have been displaced.

    The situation prompted the country’s unelected prime minister, Ariel Henry, to resign in April. And, two months later, a Kenyan-led policing mission tasked with establishing order was deployed to the Caribbean nation. But the operation has so far struggled to rein in the gangs.

    So, the UN security council unanimously adopted a resolution on September 30 to extend the mandate of the mission for another year. There was consensus that the law-and-order situation in Haiti is still deteriorating by the day.

    The move to extend the mission is, in my opinion, hollow and fails to address the real challenges on the ground. It doesn’t tackle the rampant arms trafficking that is fuelling the violence in Haiti, nor does it secure the funding that will allow the mission to operate effectively.



    Read more:
    How Haiti became a failed state

    Haiti has no firearms or ammunition manufacturing capabilities. Yet the country’s gangs are brutalising the masses with all sorts of sophisticated small arms, including sniper rifles, pump-action shotguns and automatic weapons of every kind.

    All of these weapons originate outside of the island, primarily from the US, but also from neighbouring Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Experts say lax firearm laws in the US states of Arizona, Florida and Georgia have created a sophisticated arms peddling racket into Haiti.

    There is no exact number for how many trafficked firearms are currently in Haiti. But Haiti’s disarmament commission estimated in 2020 that there could be as many as 500,000 small arms in Haiti illegally – a number that is now likely to be even higher. This figure dwarfs the 38,000 registered firearms in the country.

    The effectiveness of the Kenyan operation is also being undermined by gross resource limitations. While the mission was approved by the UN security council, it is not a UN operation and relies on voluntary financial contributions. It was originally promised US$600 million (£458 million) by UN member nations, but it has received only a fraction of that fund.

    According to Human Rights Watch, the mission has so far received a mere US$85 million in contributions through a trust fund set up by the UN. Haiti’s former colonial master, France, and several other G7 countries have not been so forthcoming.

    Inadequate funding has hindered the procurement of advanced weaponry, delayed the payment of police officers’ salaries and has prevented the deployment of more forces on the ground.

    Just 400 Kenyan officers and two dozen policemen from Jamaica have arrived in Haiti so far. This is significantly less than the 2,500 officers pledged initially by various countries including Chad, Benin, Bangladesh and Barbados.

    This financial woe has had a negative impact not only on the morale of Kenyan police officers, but it has also made Haitians despondent. Haitians are increasingly expressing impatience and disappointment with the Kenyan force in the media and online.

    Some critics have accused the officers of being “tourists”, and have pointed out that the gangs have tightened their grip on large swathes of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, since the mission began.

    The pessimism within Haiti was eloquently highlighted by the country’s interim prime minister, Garry Conille, on September 25. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meet in New York, he confessed: “We are nowhere near winning this, and the simple reality is that we won’t without your help.”

    Advantage gangs

    Finding the Kenyan-led operation a mere irritant, and not a worthy adversary, the gangs have only stepped up the ante. According to a spokesperson for Volker Türk, the UN’s human rights chief, the country’s armed gangs are now doing “everything they can” to maintain control. This has included using sexual assault to instil fear on local populations and expand their influence.

    Some UN member nations, such as the US and Ecuador, have requested that a formal UN peacekeeping mission takes place. And, despite previous peacekeeping operations in the country being marred in controversy, Haiti has asked the UN to consider turning the current operation into a peacekeeping mission.



    Read more:
    Haiti: first Kenyan police arrive to help tackle gang violence – but the prospects for success are slim

    This mission, which would probably include a larger contingent of troops, should not face the same financial constraints as the current operation. It would have greater visibility on the ground, and more fire power and authority to tackle the gangs.

    Past evidence also demonstrates that UN peackeeping missions significantly reduce civilian casualties, shorten conflicts and help make peace agreements stick.

    However, the recent push for a peacekeeping mission was thwarted because of opposition by China and Russia, two of the five permanent veto-wielding members of the UN security council.

    Beijing and Moscow have consistently argued that political conditions in Haiti are “not conducive” to a new UN peacekeeping operation. They have maintained that the current operation “should reach its full operational capacity before discussing such a transformation”.

    Meanwhile, the gangs continue tightening their vice-like grip on the country, with accounts emerging of rampant sexual violence against civilians, the closure of humanitarian corridors, the extension of their territorial control and – of course – even more killings.

    Amalendu Misra is a recipient of Nuffield Foundation and British Academy research grants.

    – ref. UN extends Kenyan policing mission in Haiti in futile attempt to tackle gangs – https://theconversation.com/un-extends-kenyan-policing-mission-in-haiti-in-futile-attempt-to-tackle-gangs-240234

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Have your say about new Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Natural England is seeking views on a new Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Yorkshire Wolds

    An image of mist on the Yorkshire Wolds.

    Natural England has today (8th October) launched a statutory and public consultation for proposed plans to designate part of the Yorkshire Wolds as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  

    This will be the formal consultation phase and will remain open for 14 weeks (closing midnight on the 13th January 2025). Local authorities and all interested parties can comment on the proposed AONB and the evidence which supports it.   

    AONBs were recently rebranded as National Landscapes however, in legal terms, Natural England would designate an AONB.

    To avoid confusion, Natural England will use the term AONB throughout the consultation process. If an AONB is subsequently designated, it would then be known as a National Landscape.    

    Plans to designate a Yorkshire Wolds AONB are part of an ambitious programme of landscape designation and is one of four new projects to help deliver on the Government’s commitment to safeguard more of England’s beautiful and iconic landscapes for future generations.  

    The Yorkshire Wolds is a tranquil, beautiful landscape, known for dramatic steep sided dry valleys, high but gentle escarpments, dramatic coastal cliffs, and open, rolling agricultural plateaus.

    Natural and cultural heritage in the area includes ancient woodland, species rich grasslands, chalk streams, Iron Age settlements, abandoned Medieval villages and Georgian manors and parkland. The Wolds also include a prominent chalk cliff and foothills rising from the Vale of York to the west and the Vale of Pickering to the north.  

    Designating this precious landscape as an AONB could bring many benefits including conserving and enhancing the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, as well as the magnificent views and tranquillity of the area.

    It could give improved access to nature for the benefit of people’s health and wellbeing, whilst safeguarding an important landscape for future generations. AONBs can also boost economic growth and sustainable local tourism.   

    Paul Duncan, Deputy Director for Natural England, said:  

    The Yorkshire Wolds is a truly special area, and it is important that everyone, including people who live in and around the community, has their say in this national designation project.     

    We’re inviting anyone interested in this fantastic landscape to take the time to examine the proposals and provide their views and comments about the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds, its condition, natural and cultural heritage, and scenic qualities. You can also comment on the desirability of the designation and the proposed boundary. Evidence that you provide could be vital in helping us refine our proposals.  

    Cllr Anne Handley East Riding of Yorkshire Council Leader, said:  

    I’m delighted that the Yorkshire Wolds, a large part of which is situated in East Riding, are being considered for national level designation.

    We are very lucky to have a range of fabulous natural assets from the Wolds to the coast, which attracts millions of visitors each year. It is fantastic to see the area, with its outstanding natural beauty, considered for such a significant status. 

    Shaun Berry Head of Environment & Sustainability of North Yorkshire County Council said:   

    We know how important North Yorkshire’s beautiful natural landscape is, to the people who live and work in and around it, those who visit from across the UK and the world and the businesses that serve those visitors.

    We already see these benefits in the county’s two National Parks and other areas of outstanding natural beauty in Nidderdale, the Howardian Hills and the Forest of Bowland, so I urge local people to have their say about this opportunity.    

    There will be a number of drop-in events and webinars to show the proposals and explain how people can have their say.

    Details of these events, along with copies of the consultation documents, information about the designation process and what an AONB means are available to view and download on the consultation website here.  

    People will also have the chance to view the documents at the drop in events and in a small number of local libraries and local authority offices, details of which are on the website. 

    Paper copies of the consultation pack can be requested by emailing the Natural England designation team on YorksWoldsDesignationProject@naturalengland.org.uk  or telephoning 0300 060 3900.

    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 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can Montana’s ‘last rural Democrat’ survive another election?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lee Banville, Professor and Director of the School of Journalism, University of Montana

    U.S. Sen. Jon Tester speaks to union members at a Labor Day campaign stop on Sept. 2, 2024, in Billings, Mont. William Campbell/Getty Images

    Jon Tester has never had it easy.

    The three-term Democratic senator from Montana has scored more than 50% of the vote only once in his three runs for the U.S. Senate, attracting 50.3% of the vote in 2018 against state auditor and future U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale.

    This year, Tester’s always-perilous path to reelection seems narrower and more harrowing than ever before. And the outcome could determine whether the Senate remains in Democratic control or flips to the Republicans.

    Current polls and political prognosticators are even starting to turn on the moderate from the farming community of Big Sandy with the flattop haircut. FiveThirtyEight has Tester’s opponent, former Navy SEAL and businessman Tim Sheehy, up four percentage points, and the venerable Cook Political Report has gone so far as to say the race “leans Republican.”

    For Montana State University political scientist Jessi Bennion, this election may be the end of an era in rural America.

    “I used to always call Tester the unicorn candidate because there was no one like him,” she told my students a couple of weeks back. “He was a farmer, he was a rural Democrat, the last rural Democrat.”

    Jon Tester, right, first won election to the U.S. Senate in 2006, when he beat Republican incumbent Conrad Burns, left, by a margin of 3,562 votes out of 406,505 cast.
    Win McNamee/Getty Images

    The end of the unicorn?

    I teach political reporting at the University of Montana School of Journalism, and every two years I send students out to interview candidates, profile races and talk with voters. It is true that the state has changed even since Tester won in 2018.

    Despite an influx of outsiders over the past decade, Montana is still a sparsely populated state boasting 1.1 million people in the latest census. Though the state has historically relied on mining and timber for much of its economy, new economic activity in tourism and technology have helped fuel a 10% jump in population in the most recent census.

    But with that influx, housing costs have soared and so have property taxes. It also leaves one of Montana’s political traditions in danger.

    See, Montana has a history of doing something very few people do these days – ticket splitting, when a person votes in an election for candidates from opposing parties. In a time of deep polarization, it is hard to imagine, but out here in the Rocky Mountains and the northern plains, voters would consistently vote for a Republican for president and often for the Legislature, but also for Democrat Jon Tester.

    Tester was able to put together a coalition of voters in the few pockets of liberals – college towns such as Missoula, union strongholds such as Butte and Indigenous voters on the reservation – and carve away enough moderate voters in more rural areas to eke out wins. When I moved here in 2009, it was not just Tester who did this. Back then, Montana had a Democratic governor, attorney general and head of schools. But over time those statewide offices have all gone, often by double digits, to Republicans.

    No Democrat has won statewide since Tester did it back in 2018.

    Migration and the march from purple to red

    Then COVID-19 hit Montana.

    The state saw a surge in population, jumping nearly 5% between 2020 and 2023, and experts such as political scientist Jeremy Johnson told my students earlier this fall that it is important to know who these new residents are.

    “I still think the race, you know, can be competitive,” Johnson said. “I do think that some of my broader themes here – the polarization, the calcification, the reluctance to ticket split – makes it harder for Tester. Plus, I think there is some evidence that more Republican-leaning voters have moved to the state than Democrat-leaning voters in the last few years.”

    One analysis reported on by the Montana Free Press found that for every two Democrats who moved to Montana since 2008, three Republicans did.

    Montana does not have party registration, so when you vote in a primary, they give you a ballot for both parties, and you choose the one you want to participate in. In the highly publicized U.S. Senate primary this year, only 36% of primary voters voted in the Democratic primary, while 64% chose to vote in the Republican primary.

    The one question mark of 2024

    Supporters of an abortion rights initiative at a rally on Sept. 5, 2024, in Bozeman, Mont., with Sen. Jon Tester, whose path to reelection may be helped by a large turnout of abortion rights voters.
    William Campbell/Getty Images

    Ask Sen. Tester, and he will say his campaign is anything but over. He is stressing his independence from his political party, how Republican President Donald Trump signed bills he sponsored and his long-running support of veterans as cornerstones of his campaign.

    But his path to reelection may run right through Roe v. Wade.

    Montana’s constitution was written in 1972, and it has some pretty progressive elements, including a right to a clean environment and an explicit right to privacy, as opposed to the more implied one in the U.S. Constitution. And in 1999, the state Supreme Court said that right to privacy included abortion access.

    Still, in part to ensure that a later court decision could not strip away that right, voters have put CI-128 on the ballot this fall, which would explicitly include protection for abortion access in the state constitution.

    Tester hit the issue hard in his last debate with Sheehy on Sept. 30, 2024.

    “The bottom line is this: Whose decision is it to be made?” Tester said during the debate. “Is it the federal government’s decision, the state government’s decision, Tim Sheehy’s decision, Jon Tester’s decision? No, it’s the woman’s decision. Tim Sheehy’s called abortion ‘terrible’ and ‘murder.’ That doesn’t sound to me like he’s supporting the woman to make that decision.”

    Tester’s supporters hope the initiative could inspire younger voters and moderate women to flock to the polls this fall, and that might make Tester’s path to reelection a bit more doable.

    But it is going to take a bit of unicorn magic, perhaps, for Tester to win a fourth term.

    Back at Montana State University, Bennion said the situation looks pretty dire for the Democrats in rural states.

    “I don’t see, unless our state changes in a lot of different ways, I don’t see a Democrat winning in a long time,” he said. “Just the way our state is growing, the kind of person that is moving here and voting.”

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

    – ref. Can Montana’s ‘last rural Democrat’ survive another election? – https://theconversation.com/can-montanas-last-rural-democrat-survive-another-election-240647

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Moscow Model” is seven years old: what the pavilion’s guests were able to see

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Moscow Model Pavilion at VDNKh celebrated its seventh anniversary on the first weekend of October. More than 5.2 thousand people attended the festive events in honor of this event. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, the head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    “On the weekend of October 5 and 6, the Moscow Model pavilion was visited not only by residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and various Russian cities, but also by tourists from Belarus, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and other countries. The exhibition guests were able to look at a 400-fold reduced exact copy of the capital’s center and see 36 lighting shows dedicated to various topics: the history of Moscow, the development of the capital’s architecture, the change of seasons,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    The karaoke show “Songs about Moscow” was of particular interest to visitors to the exhibition. The pavilion guests also took part in a special excursion program. There they learned how the model was created, how many years it took, how many people worked on the implementation of the idea, and how the “Moscow Model” differs from other similar projects in the Russian Federation.

    Over the two days of celebration, six interactive quizzes were held for all comers. 316 people took part in them, almost 60 of whom received memorable prizes for winning.

    An electronic guest book was installed at the exit of the pavilion. Guests shared their impressions using text, images or emoji. Over 100 people took advantage of this opportunity during the holiday weekend.

    The Moscow Model Pavilion is located on Sirenevaya Alley at VDNKh. It can be visited free of charge every day from 10:00 to 20:00, except Monday.

    “Based on the results of the summer season, the pavilion entered the top 3 most visited sites of the VDNKh Museum City,” noted VDNKh General Director Sergei Shogurov.

    The scale of the city model is one to 400, the area is 429 square meters. The idea of creating a copy of the capital arose in 2011. Work began a year later, and on October 3, 2017, the pavilion was opened to visitors. During this time, the model was changed and updated approximately every two to three years. The craftsmen added houses built under the renovation program, landscaped parks, new institutions, and business centers.

    The pavilion continues to host a free exhibition of tactile models of six iconic city landmarks: the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Triumphal Arch, one of Stalin’s seven skyscrapers and the State Historical Museum. For those with limited vision, all models have been supplemented with a description in Braille.

    You can find detailed information, view the schedule of light shows and VR attractions, and sign up for excursions on the website and through the mobile application “Moscow Model”.

    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/144985073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese high-speed trains roll with innovation progress

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, Oct. 8 — During the week-long National Day holiday ending on Monday, China’s high-speed railway stations were often bustling with crowds. Some passengers could be seen lined up in an orderly fashion as they prepared to board, while others could be spotted browsing their smartphones or using laptops when waiting for their boarding calls.

    The country’s railway sector experienced a surge in passenger traffic on Monday as travelers returned home from their holiday destinations.

    A total of 13,103 trains were in operation on Monday, including 1,705 additional trains scheduled to meet the significant demand. This marked a historic high for a single day’s operational capacity, according to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.

    China has built the world’s largest high-speed railway network to address the people’s growing demand for convenient and comfortable travel.

    The total operational length of China’s high-speed railway network has exceeded 45,000 kilometers, with Fuxing high-speed trains operating across 31 provincial-level regions nationwide.

    This growing volume of railway transportation is supported by innovations and high-quality development concerning China’s rail transit equipment. Notably, the Fuxing high-speed train project received the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award in June 2024.

    CHINESE RAILWAY INNOVATION

    Once upon a time, the slow train with its signature green color dominated the travel memories of many Chinese people.

    Since the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway, with a design speed of 350 km per hour, entered operation in 2008, a fast-expanding modern high-speed railway network has been operating efficiently in the world’s second-largest economy.

    Now it takes just over eight hours to travel from Hong Kong in south China to Beijing in the north by high-speed rail, a Canadian passenger with the Xiaohongshu username Lao Han, shared on his social media platform this April, while adding that he enjoyed the different views from south to north during the journey.

    Previously, a train connecting the two cities took more than 24 hours to complete a one-way trip.

    Such a rail experience is not confined to the Hong Kong-Beijing trip, with many bullet trains running across the country, reaching a maximum speed of 350 kilometers per hour. CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, one of China’s major rail transit equipment enterprises, has long been contributing to the speeding up of the country’s railway travel options.

    Since the 1990s, China’s railway running speed has been repeatedly and significantly increased, with CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles introducing a number of upgraded and innovative products to provide equipment support for these accelerations.

    Notably, this company produced China’s first subway train and first group of high-speed trains. The country’s first aluminum alloy subway train, stainless steel subway train, monorail train, low-floor light rail vehicle, linear electric locomotive and automatic subway train were also manufactured in the factories of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles.

    In July 2024, the company introduced a high-speed built-in bogie that can meet the needs of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains at a speed of 400 km per hour.

    The high-speed built-in bogie serves as the running system and one of the core components of rail vehicles. “It acts as the legs of an EMU train,” explained Zhou Dianmai, a senior engineer of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Equipped with such a bogie, a train can run faster and more steadily, while also generating less noise.

    Compared with traditional external bogies, the built-in bogie reduces the weight of the train by 20 percent — which can cut energy consumption by 15 percent during the vehicle’s operation, lower wheel-rail wear by about 30 percent, and reduce wheel-rail noise by around two decibels. In addition, maintenance cost during the whole life cycle is slashed by approximately 15 percent. This product is expected to facilitate the green and energy-saving transformation of EMU trains.

    At the EMU bogie production line of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, a big data analysis platform features key information, such as management costs and resource consumption. Through the processing of real-time data, this platform can generate product design and management suggestions.

    “The big data analysis platform improved the equipment utilization rate by 10 percent and decreased operation and management costs by 10 percent,” said Zhu Yan, deputy chief designer of the Fuxing bullet train at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. Total average annual costs were reduced by more than 5 million yuan (about 700,830 U.S. dollars).

    Through learning from overseas advanced experience and customizing according to China’s unique conditions, the company has achieved both key technologies concerning rail transit equipment and capability in terms of R&D and manufacturing of full-range EMU trains.

    On March 21, 2024, the world’s first city train powered by hydrogen, independently developed by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles, conducted its maiden speed test run. Previously, such a combination of hydrogen energy and rail transit equipment had not been achieved.

    Running at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour at full load, the train consumed only five KWh energy per kilometer, while the data measuring each system confirmed stability during the test.

    So far, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles has managed to build nine product platforms with advanced EMU, subway trains and maglev trains, covering R&D capabilities in terms of full-type and full-variety rail transit products.

    WELCOME ABOARD CHINESE TRAINS

    China’s high-speed trains, a successful example of independent innovation, are now regarded as a Chinese “calling card” and are welcomed globally.

    Indonesia’s Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway (HSR) noted in July 2024 that it had carried 4 million passengers since it began commercial operations on Oct. 17, 2023. Indonesian drivers have successfully operated the trains serving the HSR at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

    This is the first overseas high-speed railway project fully utilizing Chinese railway systems, technology and industrial components.

    The China Academy of Railway Sciences (CARS) has undertaken supervision and consultation concerning this high-speed railway, and has provided support in fields such as on-site quality control, drawing reviews and technical research.

    The 142.3-km high-speed railway has shortened the journey between Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, and Bandung, a famous tourist city, to only 40 minutes.

    Meanwhile, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, namely the China-Laos Railway, began operations in December 2021.

    “Before the China-Laos Railway opened, it took me two days to travel from Vientiane to Mongla by car,” said a Lao passenger. “Now, it takes me about five hours by train, which is very fast and convenient.”

    Another Chinese-built project, the Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed railway, has transported nearly 8.8 million people between Serbia’s two largest cities since starting operation in 2022.

    At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles signed a purchase contract with Serbia to introduce China’s bullet trains to this country in Eastern Europe.

    Based on a mature and reliable technical platform, both design and production of trains are tailored according to local railway conditions and technical specifications.

    In recent years, the products of CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles have been exported to 23 countries and regions. The company’s export business model currently covers the full life cycle service of vehicles, and it has set up 11 branches and subsidiaries worldwide.

    “China’s high-speed trains feature high levels of science and technology, strong brand influence and thriving innovation,” said Tao Guidong, a scientist of CRRC.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Shapiro to Encourage Travelers to Experience Pennsylvania’s Peak Foliage, Unveil New Color-Correcting Viewfinders at State Parks

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    October 09, 2024 – Philipsburg, PA

    ADVISORY – Governor Shapiro to Encourage Travelers to Experience Pennsylvania’s Peak Foliage, Unveil New Color-Correcting Viewfinders at State Parks

    Governor Josh Shapiro will visit Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County to encourage travelers to visit Pennsylvania State Parks this fall as the leaves reach peak color, and unveil new color-correcting viewfinders installed at state parks throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds that help colorblind visitors see the vibrant colors of the season.

    The Commonwealth has some of the world’s most beautiful and diverse fall foliage. People with colorblindness only see a fraction of the millions of hues and shades of colors seen by those with normal color vision. In Pennsylvania, an estimated one million residents are colorblind.

    The viewfinders are one way the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is working to make its 124 state parks and 2.2-million acres of state forests safe and welcoming to all.

    This visit continues to build momentum behind Pennsylvania’s new state tourism brand, The Great American Getaway, which Governor Shapiro launched this summer to showcase all the Commonwealth has to offer as a premier weekend getaway destination.

    WHO:
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn
    Mathias Weinzen, Black Moshannon State Park Manager
    Scott Kolesar, park visitor living with colorblindness
    Ta Enos, President and CEO PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship
    Representative Paul Takac

    WHEN:
    Wednesday, October 9, 10:30 AM

    WHERE:
    Black Moshannon State Park Fishing Pier, (Google Maps Location)
    Philipsburg, PA 16866

    LIVE STREAM:
    pacast.com/live/gov
    governor.pa.gov/live/

    RSVP:
    Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM to lay foundation stone of various development projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs 7600 crore on 9 October

    Source: Government of India

    PM to lay foundation stone of various development projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs 7600 crore on 9 October

    PM to lay foundation stone of upgradation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur

    PM to lay foundation stone of New Integrated Terminal Building at Shirdi Airport

    PM to inaugurate Indian Institute of Skills Mumbai and Vidya Samiksha Kendra Maharashtra

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 7:31PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of various development projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs 7600 crore, at around 1 PM, through video conference.

    Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the upgradation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur with a total estimated project cost of around Rs 7000 crore. It will serve as a catalyst for growth across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, aviation, tourism, logistics, and healthcare, benefiting Nagpur city and the wider Vidarbha region.

    Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of the New Integrated Terminal Building at Shirdi Airport worth over Rs 645 crore. It will provide world-class facilities and amenities for the religious tourists coming to Shirdi. The construction theme of the proposed terminal is based on the spiritual neem tree of Sai Baba.

    In line with his commitment to ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for all, Prime Minister will launch operationalization of 10 Government Medical Colleges in Maharashtra located at Mumbai, Nashik, Jalna, Amravati, Gadchiroli, Buldhana, Washim, Bhandara, Hingoli and Ambernath (Thane). While enhancing the under graduate and post graduate seats, the colleges will also offer specialised tertiary healthcare to the people.

    In line with his vision to position India as the “Skill Capital of the World,” Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Mumbai, with an aim to create an industry-ready workforce with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training. Established under a Public-Private Partnership model, it is a collaboration between the Tata Education and Development Trust and Government of India. The institute plans to provide training in highly specialised areas like mechatronics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, industrial automation and robotics among others.

    Further, Prime Minister will inaugurate the Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) of Maharashtra. VSK will provide students, teachers, and administrators with access to crucial academic and administrative data through live chatbots such as Smart Upasthiti, Swadhyay among others. It will offer high-quality insights to schools to manage resources effectively, strengthen ties between parents and the state, and deliver responsive support. It will also supply curated instructional resources to enhance teaching practices and student learning.

     

    ***

    MJPS

    (Release ID: 2063276) Visitor Counter : 54

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Second Hanle Dark Sky Reserve Star Party observed in Ladakh

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 8:33PM by PIB Delhi

    Expert astro-photographers and amateur astronomers came together at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve between 29 September to 4 October 2024, for the second Star Party.

    The unique event was organised by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with Department of Wildlife Protection of UT Ladakh, and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and was attended by more than 45 astronomy enthusiasts from across the country.

    Hanle and the surrounding region are host to some of the darkest night skies in India. Hence, the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR), centred around the Indian Astronomical Observatory, was notified by the Govt. of Ladakh in December 2022, and since then, it has been a major attraction for astro-tourism from across the country.

    “The Indian Astronomical Observatory operated by IIA hosts professional telescopes from our institute as well as those from other organisations, and many more are expected to be built in the future, since this is the best available astronomical site in the country”, said Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of IIA. “We are specially delighted that, through the HDSR project, the Observatory has been connecting with the local communities in a substantial and meaningful fashion. This Star Party, which has attracted so many passionate amateur astronomers, is yet another way in which HDSR brings together the cosmos and the people who love the night sky”, she added.

    HDSR is a science based socio-economic development project, which aims to preserve the darkness of the night sky through various measures to curb light pollution, coupled with an astro-tourism program wherein local villagers have been provided telescopes and trained to be astro-tourism guides or HDSR Astronomy Ambassadors, thereby earning revenue for the local community.

    Hanle holds a special place among the amateur astronomy community in India. The extremely dark sky, along with the exceptionally clear and transparent atmosphere, allows serious astronomy enthusiasts to visually see, as well as photograph, faint celestial objects which cannot be done from other locations. The participants of the Star Party, chosen from more than 200 people who had registered based on their experience and expertise, came from across India, including Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, etc. They brought their telescopes and cameras with them all the way to the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, and carried out their meticulously planned observations in the biting cold of Hanle throughout the four nights.

    To capture the uniqueness of Hanle Dark Sky Reserve for visual observations, a list of 7 visually detectable objects, all of which can be seen best at Hanle, was compiled by Ajay and Neelam Talwar, renowned astro-photographers from Delhi and frequent visitors to Hanle. This “Seven Wonders of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve Night Sky” was released by IIA on 29 September, during a day long workshop on amateur astronomy at its Raman Science Centre in Leh. Said Ajay Talwar, “We compiled this list based on our observations from Hanle over many years. The fact that all of these can be seen with the unaided eye, and also require the spectacular skies of Hanle to see them all, will inspire other astronomy enthusiasts who visit here in the future”.

    Many enthusiasts from established associations like Jyotirvidya Parisanstha in Pune, Khagol Mandal in Mumbai, and the Association of Amateur Astronomers of Delhi were also participants in the event. Many lectures were also organised, including a master class on star trails by Vikas Chander, a demonstration on planetary photography by Sona Shukla, and a talk on astronomy inspired art by Rohini Devasher.

    “We decided to have an Open Night on 2 October, so that tourists can take advantage of the numerous amateur telescopes available at the party. We received more than 450 tourists during the Party, who were shown various celestial events by our HDSR Astronomy Ambassadors”, said Niruj Mohan Ramanujam, one of the organisers of the event from IIA.

    Many of these Ambassadors were also participants of the Star Party, which presented an excellent learning opportunity for them in the company of expert astro-photographers.

    “The uniqueness of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve cannot be overstated. The participation of so many amateur astronomers from various parts of India at this Star Party, who came here at substantial personal expense, is a testament to the importance of preserving the night sky in this region,” Dorje Angchuk, Engineer-in-charge of the Indian Astronomical Observatory pointed out.  

     

    The Star Party participants at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve, with two HAGAR telescopes in the background.

     

    The Milky Way overlooking the Star Party participants working at their telescopes.

     

    Release of the “Seven Wonders of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve Night Sky”, by (left to right) Neelam Talwar, Dorje Angchuk (IIA), and Ajay Talwar.

     

    The Hanle night sky captured by a fish eye lens.

     

    The comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) photographed at the Star Party rising from behind the eastern hills of Hanle in the early morning.  

     

    ****

    NKR/DK

    (Release ID: 2063296) Visitor Counter : 27

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $15 million program bringing international visitors back to Tropical North Queensland

    Source: Minister for Trade

    A resurgence in international visitors to Tropical North Queensland is being supported by a $15 million Australian Government program.

    The International Tourism Recovery Program has delivered 28 campaigns so far, generating bookings in the last financial year for 20,000 Chinese visitors, who it is estimated will inject $37 million into the local economy.

    The second year of the $15 million program, rolling out from 1 July 2024, is expected to create even stronger demand for the world-class tourism experiences in the sunshine state’s tropical north, including the Great Barrier Reef.

    The return of Cathay Pacific flights between Hong Kong and Cairns from December through to March is projected to bring in up to 13,000 additional international visitors, who are projected to collectively spend an estimated $20 million in the region.

    China was the region’s largest international market before the pandemic, accounting for one in four international visitors and injecting more than $200 million a year into the regional economy.

    Tropical North Queensland is one of Australia’s tourism regions that is most economically dependent on international visitation.

    The International Tourism Recovery Grant Program is providing Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) with grants worth up to a total of $15 million over three years, helping to bring more international visitors to Tropical North Queensland.

    Quotes attributable to Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism:

    “Queensland’s tropical north is a spectacular place that has always been a personal favourite, a sentiment I share with many Australians and people from around the world.

    “We understand how important international visitors are for tourism in the region and, having spoken with many local business operators, I know the challenges they’ve been facing.

    “I am pleased that the Albanese Labor Government’s support is bringing back more Chinese visitors to this remarkable part of our country where they can dive into the underwater wonders of the Great Barrier Reef or be guided by local First Nations peoples on a Dreamtime walk through one of the world’s oldest rainforests.”

    Quotes attributable to Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green:

    “The Great Barrier Reef brings tourists from all across the world to Cairns and Far North Queensland.

    “Tourism is the lifeblood of our region, and welcoming international guests is vital to the success of our communities.

    “I am so proud that our Government’s investment in TTNQ is supporting the return of Chinese visitors to this incredible part of the country.”

    Quotes attributable to Mark Olsen, CEO – Tourism Tropical North Queensland:

    “The support from the International Tourism Recovery Program has given the region a boost when it needed it most, as our international numbers have been slower to recover than the capital cities.

    “China was our region’s single biggest international market in 2019, one in three Chinese visitors to Queensland came to see Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. Rebuilding demand from China is vital with Cathay Pacific returning in December.

    “The 28 trade campaigns have been supported by a coordinated approach, with a publicity push generating over $16.5 million. Roadshows are bringing our operators back into China as a region – bringing back key trade partners to experience Tropical North Queensland and all the great experiences here first-hand.”

    MIL OSI News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Shares Best Practices for Urban Infrastructure Development with Regions

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Transport and Industry of Moscow

    The Moscow government has launched a series of demonstration days to show best practices in urban infrastructure development that can be implemented in other regions of Russia. Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry, announced the initiative.

    The first event was dedicated to advanced solutions in the field of transport. Participants were presented with the best practices for the development of the city’s transport system, as well as innovative digital services for drivers and passengers.

    On the instructions of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the capital is ready to share its successful practices and cooperate with the regions to improve the quality of life of city residents. This is in line with the goals set by the President and the Government of the Russian Federation. Today’s event is the result of extensive joint work by the Moscow Government and the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. Over the past few months, we have studied and assessed socially significant urban practices that may be useful to other regions, and selected the best of them, noted Maxim Liksutov.

    Experts from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI) assessed practices in Moscow and other regions to determine their feasibility and applicability in areas with different population sizes. Using a comprehensive approach, specialists identified the most promising solutions for implementation in the regions.

    It is important that the regions have the opportunity to see transport infrastructure facilities and effective solutions with their own eyes. Today, they were able to evaluate Moscow solutions that help the capital remain a leader in digitalization and approaches to the development of the transport system, as well as other practices supported by the Agency and presented at Smartek. Some of these practices are completely free and can be easily implemented in the regions, since they do not require investments in new infrastructure or information systems. They can really take advantage of the huge resources that the authors of the project are ready to provide to other regions and cities. To help the regions understand the effect of the implemented transport solutions, the Agency will develop a corresponding methodology. This document will allow them to see the degree of influence of the practices on the indicators of the national project, – shared Svetlana Chupsheva, General Director of ASI.

    Regions will gain access to more than 70 practices in the fields of transport, industry, tourism, culture, healthcare, ecology, education, investment and business development, and social support.

    Moscow, as a center for the development of high-tech industries, is implementing more than 20 citywide measures to support industry and is already disseminating positive experience to the regions, including through the conclusion of interregional offset contracts. As part of a specialized demo day, we will share with colleagues the most successful practices of localizing innovative technical and commercial enterprises. The creation of high-tech, knowledge-intensive industries in the regions is, first of all, strengthening the technological sovereignty of the country, developing its scientific and technical potential and, of course, increasing wages and improving the quality of life of people, said Anatoly Garbuzov, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy.

    The Moscow government is actively replicating successful solutions to increase investment activity and economic attractiveness of regions.

    Thus, within the framework of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2024, the Government of Moscow and the Ministry of Economic Development signed an agreement on the creation of a single investment portal of the Russian Federation. The basis for joint development will be the investment portal of the Government of Moscow. In February 2024, the first joint digital product was launched – the Investment Map of the Russian Federation.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Renewal accrual in the Waikato this summer

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Over the next 3 years, the Waikato region is benefiting from the national funding injection of over $2 billion for pothole prevention and maintenance, with a significant volume of road renewals planned in this region over the next 3 summers.

    In total over 180 lane kilometres of road will either be rebuilt or resealed, with a substantial portion of this planned to take place over the next 6 months.

    Roger Brady, Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) explains that while this is great news for everyone, it is necessary to crack a few roading eggs to make the perfect network omelette.

    “The Waikato state highway network is extensive and heavily used every day by a variety of road users, including freight operators, commuters and tourists. To complete the volume of road renewals in our region there will be disruption across the network.

    “We’re looking at how we can minimise disruption by thinking differently and challenging ourselves and our suppliers to be as efficient and effective as possible. This includes using methods such as road closures to allow suppliers to get in and complete work in a quicker and safer way, and with fewer road cones.

    This approach is already in use on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Tīrau to Waiouru maintenance project. The stage between Tīrau and Putāruru has already been completed and the next stage between Tokoroa to Kinleith/Upper Ātiamuri started this week.

    “We’re using the increase in funding to rebuild more roads, which will improve the overall condition of the state highway network,” says Mr Brady. “This means smoother journeys for everyone – but we need to make the most of the warmer, drier weather to get the right result.

    “The renewal season is a game of 2 halves – we’ve started early to make the most of the weather now, and we’ll be pushing through until Christmas, completing as much as we can. After a short break over the holiday period road workers will be back at it until autumn sets in.”

    “Highlights of the programme include significant resealing around the Coromandel Peninsula, a number of asphalt resurfacing sites at the southern end of Hamilton along with the major rebuild programme on SH1 between Tīrau and Waiouru.

    “With so much work taking place it is inevitable people will come across worksites and traffic management. We thank you for your patience in advance. When you see roadworkers out on the road, travel safely through their worksites, follow signage and any instructions you receive, and give them a wave to say thanks for their tremendous work.”

    More information on the map attached.

    Waikato 2024/25 summer renewals programme and projects [PDF, 858 KB]

    This work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Tourism to become $91 billion cornerstone of NSW economy

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 8 October 2024

    Released by: The Premier, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, Minister for Tourism

    Millions of extra airline seats, tens of thousands of hotel rooms and a focus on experience-led tourism will transform the state’s visitor economy into a $91 billion powerhouse as set out in a government review of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy.

    The Minns Government will adopt a more ambitious goal of $91 billion in annual visitor economy expenditure by 2035 – a 40% increase on the previous goal. The accelerated growth is expected to provide a big economic windfall for regional communities, with $44 billion (48%) of the $91 billion expected to be spent in regional NSW. 

    This ambitious growth trajectory will further cement tourism as a critical pillar of future growth in the NSW economy, driving up to 150,000 new jobs by 2035.

    The next decade of growth in the visitor economy will be underpinned by a potential increase of 8.5 million airline seats due to the new Newcastle Airport international terminal opening in 2025, the opening of the Western Sydney International Airport in 2026, increased capacity at Sydney Airport and growth in cross-border arrivals through Canberra Airport and Gold Coast Airport.

    The Minns government has already been working to boost aviation capacity through support for the recently announced Turkish Airlines route to Sydney Airport and an agreement to support Newcastle Airport to attract more international routes.

    This additional capacity will increase competition, providing a greater incentive for European travellers to choose NSW as their holiday destination and put downward pressure on the cost of holidays for NSW families.

    To meet the $91 billion stretch goal, the review highlights key challenges including:

    • The need for 40,000 extra hotel rooms, a 41% increase on what’s currently available
    • Significant worker and skills shortages in roles such as tour guides and chefs
    • Need for increased business event facilities in Sydney, Western Sydney and priority regional areas.

    The review sets out a series of recommendations for achieving the stretch goal including:

    • Prioritise the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy as a government-wide economic focus.
    • Anchor the Visitor Economy Strategy around ‘experience tourism’
    • Celebrate First Nations culture and businesses through authentic visitor experiences.
    • Increase accommodation quality across regional NSW and quantity in Greater Sydney.
    • Boost aviation capacity in key domestic and international markets.
    • Leverage leisure events to grow season al visitation and showcase NSW’s strengths.
    • Dominate Australia’s business events sector.
    • Capitalise on NSW’s status as being number one for international students.
    • Foster a diverse, skilled visitor economy workforce.

    The Minns government has begun work on attracting more business events with a $1.5 million increase in funding for Business Events Sydney in FY25.

    Confirming the international appeal of the experiences on offer in Sydney, last week the NSW capital was voted ‘best city in the world’ in the Condè Nast Traveller UK’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. The poll cited Sydney’s ‘unique, indoor-outdoor way of life’ which speaks directly to the review’s recommendation to focus the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy on ‘experience tourism.’

    The NSW visitor economy is the biggest in Australia, achieving a record $53 billion in expenditure in FY24 and employing almost 300,000 workers. The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 had a target of $65 billion. The review into the 2030 strategy will inform the new NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which will be released in the coming months.

    A summary of the review of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 is available here.

    Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said:

    “From pristine beaches to lush national parks, NSW is an unbeatable hotspot for tourists across the globe.

    “People coming to New South Wales for a holiday is at an all time high, but this review shows there are opportunities to grow it even more, partially due to more airports opening and more flight routes being secured.

    “We are ready to put our shoulder to the wheel and attract even more travellers to NSW, boosting local business and creating thousands of jobs.”

    Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said:

    “This is a very exciting moment for the NSW visitor economy. We’re taking a sector that is already very strong and raising our ambitions even higher.

    “This review dares us to dream big, but it also outlines the hard work needed to meet the opportunity.

    “To reach this ambitious new target we need to build more hotel rooms, attract and train more workers and create and market the experiences that connect visitors with the culture, nature and people of NSW.

    “NSW has the nature, the culture and incredible experiences. We just need to match it with hard work and planning.”

    MIL OSI News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Manawanui sinking: an expert explains why a speedy cleanup will be crucial – and the main challenges ahead

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Battershill, Professor in Coastal Science, University of Waikato

    HMNZS Manawanui arrives at Devonport Naval Base in 2019 still bearing its original Norwegian name,
    Edda Fonn.     Getty Images

    Speed will be of the essence as salvage crews attempt to stop fuel leaking from the sunken New Zealand naval ship off the coast of Samoa.

    The HMNZS Manawanui ran aground last weekend on a reef about one nautical mile off the south coast of Upolu, Samoa’s most populated island. The specialist dive and hydrographic vessel was on its third deployment, conducting a reef survey, when it caught fire and sank.

    Manawanui listing on the reef, October 6.
    Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority via Facebook

    The ship has come to rest at a depth of up to 150 metres, which means it may be relatively undisturbed even during storms. Any hull cracks from the impact should not be exacerbated.

    But depth makes the salvage operation challenging. Crew may need decompression chambers, and there’s only a narrow window of time to seal any fuel leaks – and, ideally, pipe out more than 900 tonnes of marine diesel the ship carries.

    Fuel leaks the first priority

    The Manawanui’s sinking is a marine disaster. But it arguably poses a lesser risk than the oil spill caused by the container ship MV Rena, which ran aground near the Astrolabe Reef off Tauranga in 2011.

    The Rena was loaded with 1,368 containers, some of which contained hazardous materials, as well as 1,700 tonnes of heavy fuel oil. It also carried thousands of tonnes of dairy products, which effectively fertilised the ocean and caused massive algal blooms, visible from space.

    The fuel oil on board the Manawanui is lighter. Its most toxic short-chain hydrocarbons will likely evaporate with wave action. But if the remaining slick washes up on beaches, it will be harder to remove. During low tides, it will be running onto the reef, likely killing off corals and fish in a swath moving inshore or driven by wind and currents.

    The salvage crew’s first focus will probably be on mitigating fuel leaks. But they will also need to clean up any crushed coral and contaminated sediment around the reef and wreck as quickly as possible, as it may have been exposed to the ship’s anti-fouling paint. In calm weather this would be possible as it’s shallow on the reef crest.

    Ships in the past have been painted with the anti-fouling paint Tributylin. It has now been banned because of its toxicity, but many ships simply painted over it with modern paints. Any damage to the hull could expose old layers. Without a thorough cleanup, this could preclude coral recovery.

    My experience, and that of colleague’s both in New Zealand and in tropical Australia, shows a speedy cleanup can make all the difference for the environmental recovery after ships ground on reefs and sometimes sink.

    When the Malaysian-flagged container ship Bunga Teratai Satu ran into the Sudbury Reef in the Great Barrier Reef in 2001, the vessel was refloated without losing any cargo or fuel. But it had scraped against the reef, spreading tributyltin-coated fragments. The salvage operation cleaned up the toxic material and the coral was on a recovery trajectory within four years.

    In contrast, the sinking of the Shen Neng 1 in 2010 flattened 8,000 square metres of reef east of Great Keppel Island on Queensland’s Capricorn coast. While the ship was also refloated and removed, there was no cleanup and no signs of coral recovery a decade after the disaster.

    Should oil dispersants be used?

    All 75 crew and passengers have been taken off the Manawanui by life rafts and other boats that came to the rescue. A Court of Inquiry is under way to establish exactly what caused the sinking.

    Rescued crew and passengers from Manawanui on Upolu’s southern coast.
    Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority via Facebook

    The focus is now on mitigating environmental impacts.

    At this point, there are no signs of oil on the beaches where the vessel sank, but locals are reporting an oil-like substance in the water around the wreck.

    Should fuel oil spill ashore, locals will have to find ways of harnessing the public for the beach cleanup. When the oil slick from the Rena contaminated local beaches, thousands of volunteers helped with the recovery operation.

    Locals will likely also face decisions about using oil dispersants, which break up oil into smaller droplets into the water column.

    At the time of the Rena operation, there was a public outcry against the use of dispersants because they spread the pollution further into the marine environment, and the chemical combination of oil and dispersant can be more toxic than either alone.

    The use of dispersants makes sense however, if an oil spill threatens turtle nesting areas for example, as it did when the cargo ship Pacific Adventurer was caught in a cyclone off Queensland in 2009 and 270 tonnes of oil created a 5.5 kilometre long slick.

    The reef where the Manawanui struck is well known for its large population of sea turtles, which come to feed in the area. They are likely to sense the pollution and eventually stay away, as will pelagic fish.

    Given the area is the local villagers’ food basket and a tourist destination, any deleterious effects on the coastal environment and coral reefs will be keenly felt. As in Aotearoa, the intimate bond between people and the sea is profound. Drawing on past experiences will empower speedy action and hasten ecological restoration.

    Christopher Battershill received funding from the Ministry for the Environment to examine the environmental effects of the MV Rena ship wreck. He is affiliated with the Oil Pollution Advisory Committee and has previously worked with the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

    – ref. Manawanui sinking: an expert explains why a speedy cleanup will be crucial – and the main challenges ahead – https://theconversation.com/manawanui-sinking-an-expert-explains-why-a-speedy-cleanup-will-be-crucial-and-the-main-challenges-ahead-240775

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Albania

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel

    • Reviewed: 4 October 2024, 09:28 NZDT
    • Still current at: 8 October 2024

    Related news features

    If you are planning international travel at this time, please read our COVID-19 related travel advice here, alongside our destination specific travel advice below.

    Exercise increased caution in Albania due to the threat of crime (level 2 of 4).

    Albania

    Terrorism
     Terrorist groups, individuals returning to Europe from areas of conflict, and individuals adhering to various forms of extremist ideologies, continue to make threats to conduct attacks throughout Europe.

    New Zealanders in Albania are advised to keep themselves informed of potential risks to safety and security by monitoring the media and other local information sources. We recommend following any instructions issued by the local authorities and exercising a high degree of vigilance in public places, including at tourist sites, restaurants, bars, shopping areas, sporting events and transport hubs. Be alert and take official warnings seriously.

    Crime
     Violent crime does occur, but targeting of foreigners is rare. Petty crime such as bag snatching and pickpocketing occurs in Albania and is common in tourist areas, in larger cities and major public transport hubs, including airports. House break-ins and property theft also occur. Security risks increase after dark. Be cautious when using ATM machines. We advise New Zealanders to be alert to their surroundings at all times and take steps to safeguard and secure their personal belongings, including in vehicles.

    Civil Unrest
     Public demonstrations occur often, and can happen with little warning causing serious traffic disruptions. Political protests regularly take place in central Tirana. You should avoid all demonstrations and large public gatherings in Albania, as some previous protests have turned violent.  Follow local media sources and be aware of your surroundings.

    General Travel Advice
     Landmines are still present in the north-eastern border area with Kosovo, but are often marked clearly as danger zones. New Zealanders are advised not to stray off well-used roads and paths in rural areas.

    Keep your passport in a safe place and only carry a photocopy of your passport for identification purposes.

    Penalties for the possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe and can include lengthy imprisonment or fines.

    Medical facilities are limited outside Tirana. New Zealanders travelling or living in Albania should have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place that includes provision for medical evacuation.

    New Zealanders in Albania are encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

    Travel tips

    The New Zealand Embassy Rome, Italy is accredited to Albania

    Street Address Via Clitunno, 44, 00198 Rome, Italy Telephone +39 06 853 7501 Fax +39 06 440 2984 Email rome@nzembassy.it Web Site https://www.mfat.govt.nz/italy Hours Mon- Fri 0900 -1230 and 1330-1630 Note We encourage you to make an appointment to ensure prompt service.

    See our regional advice for Europe

    Top of page

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Mexico & United States: Hurricane Milton

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel

    Mexico & United States: Hurricane Milton

    Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 hurricane is expected to impact the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula with dangerous hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surges, and heavy rainfall in the coming days.

    The National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA) and the Mexican Civil Defence agency are issuing advice on their X accounts @conagua_mx and @CNPC_MX.

    You can also track the information in English on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website: HURRICANE MILTON (noaa.gov).

    Hurricane Milton is then expected to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday 9 October as a Category 4 hurricane or stronger.  The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) is issuing advice on their website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ and additional information is available on the State of Florida’s website: 
    https://www.stateofflorida.com/articles/hurricane-preparedness-guide

    We also advise New Zealanders in the affected areas to follow the advice of local authorities at all times (including any evacuation orders) and seek suitable shelter. Visitors and tourists staying in travel accommodation should follow the guidance of hotel/resort management. It is considered sensible practice not to venture outdoors during a hurricane and remain well away from the sea and rivers. We recommend you stay informed of developments by monitoring local news and weather reports.

    Please also ensure you keep your family and friends in New Zealand informed of your safety and well-being, including after the hurricane has passed.

    New Zealanders in Mexico or the United States requiring emergency assistance should contact the local emergency services by calling 911.

    If you require consular assistance, please contact:

    New Zealand Embassy in Mexico City on: +52 55 5283 9460 or nzmexico@mfat.govt.nz

    New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC on: +1 202 438 4800 or WSHinfo@mfat.govt.nz

    For consular emergencies only after-hours on +64 99 20 20 20.

    Associated Advisories:

    Posted:8 Oct 2024, 11:50

    Share this page:

    Top of page

    Share this page:

    Latest News features

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Taiwan: Typhoon Krathon

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade – Safe Travel

    Taiwan: Typhoon Krathon

    Typhoon Krathon is expected to impact Taiwan from Wednesday 2 October. You should expect strong winds, heavy rain and storm surges during this time.

    Up to date information on Typhoon Krathon can be found on the Central Weather Administration website: Home | Central Weather Administration (cwa.gov.tw) We also recommend that you stay informed of developments by monitoring local media.

    We advise New Zealanders in Taiwan to follow the advice of the local authorities at all times and seek suitable shelter. Visitors and tourists staying in travel accommodation should follow the guidance of hotel/resort management. It is considered sensible practice not to venture outdoors during a typhoon and remain well away from the sea and rivers. 

    Please also ensure you keep your family and friends in New Zealand informed of your safety and well-being, including after the typhoon has passed.

    If you require emergency assistance, local emergency services can be contacted via the following numbers: Fire and Ambulance (119) and Police (110).

    New Zealanders requiring consular assistance can contact the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei between 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and between 9am and 12.30pm on Friday on +886 2 2720 5228 or email nzcio.tpe@msa.hinet.net. For after-hours emergency consular assistance for New Zealanders please call +64 9 920 2020.

    Associated Advisories:

    Posted:2 Oct 2024, 08:57

    Share this page:

    Top of page

    Share this page:

    Latest News features

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing breaks tourism records during ‘golden week’ holiday

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    During the “golden week” holiday from Oct. 1 to 7, Beijing set new records for both tourist arrivals and total tourism revenue.
    Data from the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism shows that during the National Day holiday, the Chinese capital city received 21.6 million visitors, marking a year-on-year increase of 18.35 percent. Meanwhile, the city logged total tourism revenue of 26.9 billion yuan (about 3.8 billion U.S. dollars), representing an 11.67-percent increase compared to the previous year.
    As a vibrant cultural center home to the iconic historical sites such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, Beijing’s blend of ancient traditions and modern development makes it a fascinating destination for tourists seeking to immerse themselves in Chinese culture.
    Beijing’s Central Axis, a newly recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site extending 7.8 kilometers through its heart, offers visitors a new perspective from which to explore the city on foot. Tourist interest in visiting locations along the axis has grown significantly, with bookings increasing by 69 percent compared to last year.
    As China’s rural revitalization strategy continues to advance, better infrastructure, services and a variety of colorful activities have also made short-term suburban tours popular among tourists in recent years.
    During the holiday period, Beijing’s rural areas greeted a total of 4.5 million tourists, marking a year-on-year increase of 13.6 percent, with the operating income reaching 602 million yuan, up 4.5 percent from the previous National Day holiday period.
    In addition, during the week-long holiday, public cultural institutions across Beijing organized a total of 855 activities, including exhibitions, cultural lectures, reading activities, art training and intangible cultural heritage experiences, attracting 446,900 participants. A total of 2,071 commercial performances were held, 14 percent higher than the figure for the same period in the previous year.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s in-orbit satellite performs AI large-model tests

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket carrying eight satellites blasts off from the waters near the city of Haiyang in east China’s Shandong Province, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    ADA Space, a Chinese AI satellite internet technology company, announced on Sunday that its recently-launched satellite has successfully completed the technical verification of AI large-model technology during the in-orbit operation.
    From Sept. 25 to Oct. 5, the satellite conducted 13 tests of its AI large model, involving multiple types of inference questions under various operating and temperature conditions.
    The technical test validated the space adaptability of the company’s AI large model in orbit, the reliability of the computing satellite platform, and the effective computing power of the high-performance payloads during operation in space, according to the company.
    In the next step, the satellite will conduct AI generation of 3D remote-sensing data in orbit. Its AI 3D-imaging capabilities can support a wide range of digital twin applications across various sectors, including low-altitude economies, cultural tourism and sports.
    The satellite was launched aboard a Smart Dragon-3 carrier rocket from the waters near the city of Haiyang in east China’s Shandong Province on Sept. 24.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese mainland records 13.57M entry, exit trips in National Day holiday

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Border control authorities on the Chinese mainland recorded about 13.57 million inbound and outbound trips during the National Day holiday from Oct. 1 to 7, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
    They also recorded 606,000 vehicles crossing the border during the seven days, one of the longest public holidays on the mainland, according to a statement released by the ministry on Monday.
    The number of criminal cases and public security incidents reported on the mainland during the holiday decreased by 5.7 percent and 20.4 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the statement.
    A daily average of 580,000 police and auxiliary police officers worked to protect tourists from public security threats during the holiday, it added.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong, Macao aim to be global talent hubs

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Fireworks celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China illuminate the sky over Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, Oct 1, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Experts from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions said the central government’s new directive to transform the two regions into international hubs for top-tier talent will fulfill local demand for talent while propelling the country’s high-quality development.
    To achieve this objective, both regions should leverage their distinct advantages and policy incentives to attract and retain external talent, while strengthening mechanisms to nurture local talent, they said.
    The resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, which was adopted on July 18 at the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, voiced support for Hong Kong and Macao in building themselves into international hubs for high-caliber talent.
    Luo Yong, chairman of the Hong Kong Quality and Talent Migrants Association, said the resolution marks the first explicit directive from the central authorities regarding the SAR’s talent policies, demonstrating Hong Kong’s significant importance to national development.
    Daniel Lee Ho-wah, president of the Hong Kong People Management Association, a professional human resources management body, said that Hong Kong will be a direct beneficiary of the resolution.
    Official data shows that the city’s population is projected to reach 8.19 million by mid-2046, with one-third being age 65 or older.
    Building Hong Kong into an international talent hub will help address the city’s challenges related to its aging population and labor shortage.
    The welcome influx of talent will also spur the growth of various industries in Hong Kong, upgrade the city’s economic structure and attract more investment, Lee said.
    Lau Siu-kai, a consultant with the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, a Beijing-based think tank, said he believes that professionals attracted to Hong Kong will leverage the city as a gateway to the Chinese mainland and overseas.
    These professionals will not only contribute to the development of Hong Kong and the mainland but also help foster a positive global narrative of the country, Lau added.
    The Hong Kong SAR government has ramped up talent-attraction initiatives since late 2022. As of June 30, the city had received more than 320,000 applications through various talent programs, of which 200,000 had been approved, and more than 130,000 of the applicants had arrived in Hong Kong.
    Leveraging advantage
    Luo of the Hong Kong Quality and Talent Migrants Association said the “one country, two systems” principle has always been a magnet for global professionals, and the city should further leverage this advantage to enhance its appeal. Considering Hong Kong’s relatively narrow industry scope, the city needs to collaborate with mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area on talent policies.
    Luo’s association has been hosting talent summits and fostering exchanges with high-end talent organizations and international talent groups. He noted that professionals, whether from Hong Kong, the mainland or overseas, share a common interest in exploring growth prospects in the city, especially for foreigners who hope to tap mainland opportunities through Hong Kong.
    Luo emphasized the magnetic effect of career-advancement prospects on high-caliber professionals, suggesting that providing such opportunities is key to attracting the world’s best.
    Shang Hailong, a lawmaker and chairman of the Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association, proposed targeted scholarship programs to entice people from countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to study in Hong Kong.
    Hong Kong should not just attract professionals, but also needs to retain them, Shang said.
    As the city prepares for a wave of visa renewals in the coming years, the government could use the opportunity to address the practical challenges faced by newcomers.
    Lee of the Hong Kong People Management Association underlined the need to address expatriates’ concerns in finding suitable accommodations for their families and the right schools for their children.
    Lee suggested that the government collaborate with international or English-language schools to reserve spots for the children of senior professionals. Additionally, enterprises can help provide them with affordable transitional housing.
    He emphasized that going to Hong Kong is not just an individual decision by the professionals, but a family matter as well. Resolving livelihood challenges is essential to encouraging them to relocate to the city, Lee said.
    Zhou Ping, director of the Macao One Belt, One Road Research Center at City University of Macao, said the plenary session’s resolution provides crucial guidance for advancing Macao’s talent framework.
    He said Macao’s emphasis on new industries in recent years boasts several advantages that are distinct from those of Hong Kong in attracting talent. Macao’s “1+4” industry diversification strategy, unveiled in 2023, involves promoting the growth of one key sector — tourism and leisure — alongside the advancement of the big health, modern finance and high-tech industries, as well as conventions, exhibitions, culture and sports.
    This strategic approach opens doors for experts to swiftly assume leadership positions within these industries, Zhou said.
    Wong Kam-fai, a legislator and an associate dean of the faculty of engineering at Chinese University of Hong Kong, said fostering local talent is critical for the long-term development of Hong Kong’s talent base.
    Despite Hong Kong’s established prowess in finance, innovation and technology, trade and aviation, there remains a shortage of skilled human resources in some applied technology disciplines such as information technology, electrical and mechanical engineering, maritime engineering and logistics, he said.
    To address this gap, Wong proposed strengthening cooperation with the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in training talent with applied skills.
    Hong Kong can establish vocational training colleges on the mainland, offering programs with mutually recognized qualifications, Wong said, adding that graduates from these colleges could be allowed to work in Hong Kong, becoming a force in the city’s talent pool.
    The government could also construct primary and secondary boarding schools, offering mainland and international curriculums that cater to the needs of families from Shenzhen and Hong Kong. These institutions could serve as incubators for Hong Kong’s future professionals.
    Addressing challenges
    Addressing the challenges in fostering innovation and technology talent, Wong suggested that the government establish a committee to focus on the issue. This committee could help the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR create and update the innovation and technology program framework, and systematically develop the professionals required by various industries, he added.
    Zhou from City University of Macao also emphasized the importance of local talent development. He said the Macao SAR government should offer greater support to the region’s 10 higher education institutions, with a focus on disciplines integral to the city’s future growth.
    He also encouraged these institutions to consider establishing branches on Hengqin island of Zhuhai, Guangdong province, to capitalize on the synergy of the whole Greater Bay Area.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Here comes the Summer Road Renewals

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    The Bay of Plenty will benefit from its share of more than $2 billion in funding for nationwide pothole prevention and maintenance over the next 3 years, with a significant volume of road renewals planned for the region.

    This funding boost enables NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to focus on road rebuilding and improving the overall network condition through more intensive treatments and increasing the road surface quality.

    Approximately 110 lane kilometres in the Bay of Plenty will either be rebuilt or resealed over coming summers, with a significant portion of this planned to take place over the next 6 months.

    “The Bay of Plenty network is heavily used every day by a variety of road users, including freight operators, commuters, and tourists,” says Sandra King, NZTA’s Bay of Plenty System Manager.

    “To complete the volume of road renewals needed, people can expect disruption across the network. Road rebuilding can often involve replacing all or most of the structural road layers, it’s intensive work with some sections under construction for extended periods of time.

    “We’re looking at how we can minimise disruption by thinking differently and challenging ourselves and our suppliers to be as efficient and effective as possible. This includes using methods such as road closures to allow suppliers to get in and complete work in a quicker and safer way, and with fewer road cones,” Ms King explains.

    While there will be various maintenance worksites across the Bay of Plenty this summer, there is a focus on State Highway 29 (SH29), specifically near Hanga Road, the Kaimai Café and the Kaimai School. To minimise impacts to traffic, this work will be done at night and starts this month.

    Some renewal sites have kicked off early, crews are making the most of the weather now with 2 worksites on State Highway 2 (SH2) between Paengaroa and Ōtamarākau already halfway through construction.

    As much work as possible will be completed before Christmas, then there will be a short break over the holiday period. Workers will then get back into it until autumn sets in.

    “With so much work taking place it is inevitable road users will come across worksites and traffic management. When you see roadworkers out on the road, travel safely through their worksites, follow signage and any instructions you receive, and give them a wave to say thanks for their tremendous work,” says Ms King.

    The sites that will be the most disruptive over the summer months are indicated on the maps  attached.

    This work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Mobile payment helps fuel holiday consumption

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s innovative mobile payment options fueled a new wave of inbound travel-related consumption during the National Day holiday period that ended on Monday, injecting more vitality into the global tourism industry, said industry experts.

    Data from leading online payment platform Alipay showed that inbound visitors are increasingly embracing mobile payment methods while traveling across China, as their spending on the platform surged around 120 percent year-on-year during the first four days of the weeklong holiday.

    The uptick in transactions was particularly pronounced among tourists from over 10 countries and regions that have been granted visa-free access to China since last year. Their Alipay usage saw a nearly threefold year-on-year increase, the platform said.

    Meanwhile, Chinese businesses are also capitalizing on the growing influx of international consumers. The number of merchants using Alipay for foreign customers doubled during the first four days of the holiday compared with the same period in 2023.

    The top services that foreign tourists used through Alipay during this year’s National Day holiday were ride-hailing, bike-sharing, flight and train bookings, and food delivery.

    Ouyang Rihui, assistant dean of the China Center for Internet Economy Research at Central University of Finance and Economics, said that visa-free access, flight recovery and convenient mobile payments are among key factors driving the rise of inbound tourism in China.

    “This will not only boost domestic consumption, but will also inject fresh impetus into the global tourism industry,” Ouyang added.

    In a move to further facilitate transactions for foreigners, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Data Administration announced last week that eight cities will pilot a program designed to make it easier for individual business owners to adopt mobile payment platforms.

    Individual businesses in cities including Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Jinan in Shandong province will be supported in streamlining the procedure needed to handle payment codes for foreign credit cards, according to the two authorities.

    They said that mobile payment platforms do not have access to the registration information of individual businesses and, therefore, the process of opening merchant payment codes was time-consuming.

    The new move will make it easier for over 11 million individual business entities, which make up 9.3 percent of the total national businesses, to open such codes, the authorities said.

    The nation has been making greater efforts to facilitate payment for foreign visitors.

    In March, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, released guidelines aimed at improving the accessibility of bank card payments, promoting the use of cash and expanding mobile payment options for travelers.

    The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million trips made by foreign tourists in the first nine months of this year, up 55.4 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, an international association promoting digital and high-tech cooperation between Chinese and European companies, said that China’s efforts to enhance mobile payment options for international users is a significant step forward.

    “The transformation not only benefits individual travelers and merchants, but also strengthens China’s position as a world leader in the adoption of mobile payments and a major contributor to global advancement in fintech,” Gambardella said.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Culture-rich towns emerge as new tourist hotspots

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Nestled at the eastern foothill of Helan Mountain in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, northwest China, the Dulaan Holiday Wine Stroll was bustling with tourists during the just-concluded seven-day National Day holiday.

    There is much to keep wine buffs busy, from meandering through vineyards or exploring the well-stocked cellars, to — of course — savoring a glass, or two, of the local wine. For the adventurous, cycling through the mountains offers encounters with blue sheep or red deer. Overnight guests can also stargaze under the guidance of celestial mentors, adding a touch of education to their leisure.

    “I was pleasantly surprised by this quaint ‘wine town’! It’s incredibly relaxing,” exclaimed Lu Di, a resident of Yinchuan, the regional capital. Here, she indulged in wine tasting and afternoon tea with her husband, bathed in the golden hour light of Helan Mountain, enjoyed a bike ride with her son, and even found time to feed some adorable alpacas.

    The eastern foothill of Helan Mountain, with its dry climate and abundant sunshine, is acclaimed as a “golden zone” for grape cultivation and premium wine production. A collection of diverse wineries has created a “wine corridor” at the mountain’s base, which is also home to several renowned scenic spots.

    Leveraging these advantages, the Dulaan Holiday Wine Stroll was established in December 2023, with its affiliated hotel welcoming visitors starting from this June. Combining grape cultivation, wine making, culture, arts and sightseeing, it has attracted over 50,000 tourists in just four months.

    Yang Ziyun, an employee at the affiliated hotel, said that they had curated a variety of activities to enhance the National Day holiday experience, including painting, bamboo weaving, wine therapy and mountain-side night concerts.

    Ningxia produced its first bottle of wine in 1984. Today it is China’s largest wine-producing region and is gaining prominence on the global stage.

    In recent years, culture-themed towns have flourished in China, offering a novel experience for tourists. Each is rooted in the unique local culture, offering a quick, yet profound, understanding of their own region.

    Ten kilometers away, the Seeing Helan Performance Town is also abuzz, especially at night. As its name suggests, it features performances that celebrate the culture of Helan Mountain and Ningxia. The town is awash with the festive glow of red lanterns under the eaves of traditional buildings, creating a warm, welcoming ambiance.

    Walkabout performers, dressed as historical, mythical or legendary figures from Ningxia, roaming the town or starring in awe-inspiring shows, are a highlight for many, particularly the younger generation.

    During the just-concluded holiday, the town not only boasted plays, juggling and traditional dances but also invited its tourists to sing patriotic songs, dance together, and partake in large-scale barbecues under the mountain.

    “Tourists from across the country can immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, local Ningxia culture and the charm of night tours here,” said Pan Chunhui, marketing director of the Seeing Helan Performance Town.

    Pan added that the town alone received more than 80,000 visitors during the first six days of the holiday.

    The daily bookings for outbound and inbound travel on the platform of Ctrip, a leading Chinese online travel agency, reached a record high during the National Day holiday, the company said on Monday.

    A significant number of young people are developing a keen interest in tourism at the county level, leading to a 40 percent year-on-year increase in daily bookings for county tourism, said the report.

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Maintenance work at Lake Trasimeno – E-001893/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001893/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Valentina Palmisano (The Left), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Carolina Morace (The Left)

    Lake Trasimeno, located within a national park and part of the Natura 2000 network, is an ecosystem of high environmental value and a mainstay of the region’s economy, especially the tourism sector.

    EU Directives 2009/147/EC (‘Birds’) and 92/43/EEC (‘Habitats’ on biodiversity), although they are intended to safeguard natural habitats, make it difficult to maintain the lake, particularly owing to the impossibility of working on the lakebed which is the nesting ground for some protected species.

    This threatens to aggravate the already critical condition of the lake, which, as the only reservoir in Italy fed exclusively by rainwater, is suffering from the scarcity of rainfall caused by climate change, thus making the situation even harder to manage.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.How does the Commission intend to reconcile the protection of biodiversity with the need for maintenance work to preserve Lake Trasimeno’s ecological functions and value for the tourism sector?
    • 2.Does it intend to look into the possibility of introducing specific guidelines for essential maintenance work in ecologically sensitive situations while ensuring the protection of species protected under Directives 2009/147/EC and 92/43/EEC?
    • 3.What technical and financial support measures can the Commission propose to address this situation?

    Submitted: 1.10.2024

    Last updated: 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Combating driving licence tourism – E-001896/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001896/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Tomas Tobé (PPE)

    The Swedish Transport Agency says that thousands of people registered in Sweden are travelling to other European Economic Area (EEA) countries in order to have a third-country driving licence exchanged for an EEA licence in a way that is not possible in Sweden.[1]

    The Driving Licence Directive regulates how driving licences are exchanged and establishes that EEA driving licences can be exchanged for a national driving licence.[2] However, the legislation was never intended to be used by people from third countries to engage in ‘driving licence tourism’ by travelling to the country affording the most favourable conditions to have a driving licence from their home country converted into an EEA licence.[3]

    Abuse of the rules on exchanging driving licences within the EEA in this way has a major impact on road safety throughout the EU, as adequate driver skills can no longer be guaranteed. The growth of driving licence tourism shows the shortcomings of the current EU legislation and an inability to keep the Union’s roads free of driving licence fraudsters.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission consider that revision of the Driving Licence Directive, which is now at an advanced stage, adequately addresses the problems posed by driving licence tourism, or are additional initiatives needed?
    • 2.What action does the Commission intend to take to combat abuse of the current Driving Licence Directive before the new directive is implemented?

    Submitted: 1.10.2024

    • [1] https://www.transportstyrelsen.se/globalassets/global/nyhetsarkiv/vag/rapport-granskning-utbyte-utlandska-korkort—korkortsturism.pdf
    • [2] Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
    • [3] https://www.ereg-association.eu/media/1126/final-report-ereg-topic-group-x-driving-licence-tourism.pdf
    Last updated: 8 October 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DAE Inaugurates MACE, Asia’s Largest and World’s Highest Imaging Cherenkov Observatory, at Hanle, Ladakh

    Source: Government of India

    DAE Inaugurates MACE, Asia’s Largest and World’s Highest Imaging Cherenkov Observatory, at Hanle, Ladakh

    MACE project plays a significant role not only in advancing scientific research but also in supporting the socio-economic development of Ladakh: DAE Secretary and Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission Dr. A.K. Mohanty

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 3:32PM by PIB Mumbai

    : Mumbai, October 8, 2024

     

    The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory has been inaugurated by Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary DAE & Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, at Hanle, Ladakh, on 4th October 2024. MACE is the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia. Located at an altitude of ~4,300 m, it is also the highest of its kind in the world. The telescope is indigenously built by BARC with support from ECIL and other Indian industry partners. The inaugural of MACE Observatory was a part of the Platinum Jubilee year celebrations of the DAE. The event commenced with the unveiling of commemorative plaques by Dr. Mohanty at the MACE site at Hanle, Ladakh, thereby officially inaugurating the MACE Observatory.

    In his inaugural address, DAE Secretary Dr. Mohanty applauded the collective effort that brought the MACE telescope to fruition. He stated that the MACE Observatory is a monumental achievement for India, and it places our nation at the forefront of cosmic-ray research globally. He further added that this telescope will allow us to study high-energy gamma rays, paving the way for deeper understanding of the universe’s most energetic events. Dr. Mohanty emphasised the significant role that MACE project plays not only in advancing scientific research but also in supporting the socio-economic development of Ladakh. Students were encouraged to explore careers in astronomy and astrophysics, with Dr. Mohanty expressing hope that the MACE project would inspire future generations of Indian astronomers, scientists, and engineers. Dr. Mohanty also paid tribute to India’s pioneering contributions to the field, including the work of Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, whose legacy continues to inspire India’s cosmic-ray research.

    Secretary DAE & Chairman AEC inaugurates the MACE observatory at Hanle, Ladakh on 4th Oct 2024

     

    Secretary DAE & Chairman AEC unveils the Bhabha Plaque at the MACE site on 4th Oct 2024

     

    Inaugural Address of Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, DAE & Chairman, AEC

     

    Shri Ajay Ramesh Sule, Additional Secretary, DAE, stressed the importance of balancing tourism and scientific activities within the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) and encouraged students to pursue careers in science and technology.

    Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), highlighted the fruitful collaborative efforts between several constituent Units of DAE and the IIA.

    Shri Sajjad Hussain Mufti, Chief Conservator of Forests, UT Ladakh, outlined the key features of the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve and the focus on community engagement. He reaffirmed the UT administration’s unwavering commitment to supporting DAE’s scientific activities.

    Dr. S. M. Yusuf, Director, Physics Group, BARC, in his welcome address, emphasized the importance of the MACE telescope in advancing India’s space and cosmic-ray research capabilities. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. K. K. Yadav, Head of Astrophysical Sciences Division of BARC, followed by a visit to the state-of-the-art MACE Control Room. The dignitaries present on the occasion interacted with the team of astronomers and technicians.

    Dignitaries on the dais during the inauguration of the MACE observatory 4th Oct 2024

    (Left to Right: Shri A. R. Sule, Additional Secretary, DAE; Dr. A. K. Mohanty, Secretary, DAE & Chairman, AEC; Shri Hussain Mufti, Chief Conservator of Forests, UT of Ladakh; Prof. Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, IIA; Dr. S. M. Yusuf, Director, Physics Group, BARC)

     

    A pictorial compilation documenting the journey of the MACE project was also released on the occasion. Dr. Mohanty felicitated the representatives of the Nambardars (village leaders), the school headmaster, and the venerable Lama of the Handle Gompa.

    Release of Special Pictorial Compilation during the event

    A special film on the MACE telescope was screened, showcasing the scientific and technological advancements made during the project. The day concluded with a guided tour of the MACE Observatory, giving attendees an exclusive look at the world-class observatory that establishes India on the global advanced astronomy map.

    The inauguration of the MACE telescope marks a significant step forward for Indian astrophysics and cosmic-ray research. Situated at an altitude of ~4,300 m, the MACE telescope will observe high-energy gamma rays, contributing to global efforts to understand the most energetic phenomena in the universe, such as supernovae, black holes, and gamma-ray bursts. This facility will also complement global observatories, strengthening India’s position in the field of multi messenger astronomy.

    Looking ahead, the MACE project aims to foster international collaborations, advancing India’s contributions to space research and bolstering India’s position in the global scientific community. The observatory will also serve as a beacon of inspiration for future generations of Indian scientists, encouraging them to explore new frontiers in astrophysics.

    Felicitation of the Community Representatives during the event

     

    Visit of the Dignitaries to the MACE Control Room

    Night time observations using the MACE Telescope

    Secretary DAE & Chairman AEC with the Team of Physics Group, BARC at the MACEE site on 5th Oct 2024

     

    SC/PM Source: BARC

    Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai     /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com   /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai

    (Release ID: 2063169) Visitor Counter : 74

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    January 23, 2025
←Previous Page
1 … 150 151 152 153 154 … 162
Next Page→
NewzIntel.com

NewzIntel.com

MIL Open Source Intelligence

  • Blog
  • About
  • FAQs
  • Authors
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Patterns
  • Themes

Twenty Twenty-Five

Designed with WordPress