Month: April 2025

Source: Government of India

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launches Digital Portal for National Waterways

First NOC issued via the newly launched portal to Marina India Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for developing a Jetty on Malim on River Mandovi (NW 68) in Goa

National Waterways Regulations 2025 Opens Door for Private Investment in Jetty and Terminal Development on National Waterways

Posted On: 09 APR 2025 7:40PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal launched a dedicated digital portal developed by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to invite private investment in infrastructure development on National Waterways. 

With a ceremonial click, the Minister formally inaugurated the initiative, which is aimed at facilitating ease of doing business (EODB) and encouraging private investment in inland water transport (IWT) in the country. The launch follows the introduction of the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, which lays out a framework for private players to invest in the construction and operation of jetties and terminals across India’s national waterways network.

As per the newly notified National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025, any entity — including private players — can now develop or operate an inland waterway terminal on a National Waterway by securing a ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NoC) from the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The regulations apply to both existing and new terminals, whether permanent or temporary. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said, “The launch of the National Waterways Regulations, 2025, along with the digital portal developed by IWAI, marks a transformative step in India’s maritime and logistics ecosystem. By enabling private participation in developing jetties and terminals, we are going to unlock immense potential for sustainable infrastructure growth in the inland waterways transportation, a vision of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. This initiative not only simplifies regulatory procedures but also reflects our commitment to Ease of Doing Business (EODB), economic empowerment, and job creation. It paves the way for a modern, efficient, economical and inclusive inland water transport system powering the nation towards Viksit Bharat.”

*First NoC Through Newly Launched Digital Portal*

As part of the launch event, Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal handed over the first No Objection Certificate (NoC) issued through the new digital portal to Mumbai-based Marina India Infrastructure Private Limited. This is the first-of-its-kind NoC issued digitally to any private entity for construction of a terminal on any national waterway in the country.

With an investment of approximately Rs. 8 crores, the company will establish a jetty at Malim on National Waterway-68 (River Mandovi) in Goa. Designed to berth up to 16 privately owned yachts and pleasure crafts up to 30 meters in length, the jetty will support docking and undocking for each trip, helping boost river cruise tourism along the waterway.

The Union Minister said, “Under the visionary leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, IWAI has transformed inland waterways into a powerful engine of economic growth—evident from the surge in cargo movement from 18 million tonnes to 133 million tonnes in FY 2023-24. The new National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025 will further accelerate this momentum by encouraging private investment, improving procedural efficiency, and advancing sustainable, digitally driven development.”

The new regulations bring both permanent and temporary terminals—existing or new—under a unified framework. Permanent terminals can operate for a lifetime, while temporary ones will have an initial five-year term with provisions for extension. This streamlined approach is aimed at encouraging private participation and reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustainable, growth-driven development in the inland waterways sector.

The event was also attended by Shri Vijay Kumar, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), among other senior officials from IWAI and the Ministry. 

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GDH/HR

(Release ID: 2120561) Visitor Counter : 87

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 09 APR 2025 6:20PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 9 April 2025

 

The Indian Digital Gaming Society (IDGS) has announced the top 10 finalists of the Innovate2Educate: Handheld Device Design challenge. The competition, organised by the IDGS in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as part of the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, is aimed at driving innovation among the youth at the intersection of technology, education, and gaming, inspiring breakthrough ideas and design for handheld devices that can revolutionize learning experiences.

Launched as a key initiative of WAVES 2025 Create in India Challenge, the Innovate2Educate challenge invited students, designers, startups, and tech enthusiasts from across the world to envision next-generation portable devices that blend entertainment with education for diverse user groups.

The top 10 finalists have been selected from 1856 registration of innovative ideas after rigorous evaluation by an expert jury panel comprising industry leaders, technologists, educators, and designers. The jury includes Mr Indrajit Ghosh, Co-Founder, Eruditio; Mr Rajeev Nagar, Country Manager, Inda and SAARC, Huion; and Mr Jeffrey Cray, Co-Founder and Product Head, Squid Academy.

The 10 finalists are:

1. KARNATA PARVA – Code Craft Junior (Karnataka)
2. VIDYARTHI – Smart Learning Tablet for Kids: An Interactive and Adaptive Educational Companion (Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh)
3. TECH TITANS – Smart Handwriting Learning Device with Interactive Writing Assistance (Tamil Nadu)
4. PROTOMINDS – EduSpark (Delhi, Kerala, UP, Bihar)
5. APEX ACHIEVERS – BODMAS Quest: Gamified Math Learning For Smarter Education (Tamil Nadu)
6. SCIENCEVERSE – The Imperative of Interactive Educational Handheld Devices for Children (Indonesia)
7. V20 – VFit – Interactive Learning Through Play (Tamil Nadu)
8. WARRIORS– Maha-shastra (Dehi)
9. KIDDYMAITRI– A Handheld Mathematical Gaming Console (Mumbai, Odisha, Karnataka)
10. E-GROOTS– Micro Controller Mastery Kit (Tamil Nadu)

Talking about the competition, Rajan Navani, President of Indian Digital Gaming Society, said that the challenge has demonstrated how India’s creative and technological talent can design solutions that address real educational needs while leveraging the power of gamification and interactive content.

Ashutosh Mohle, the nodal officer from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the Innovate2Educate challenge said that the WAVES Handheld Videogame Design Challenge is not just about gaming—it’s about nurturing a new wave of innovation in India’s hardware ecosystem. “By leveraging microcontrollers and aligning with the goals of the India Semiconductor Mission, we’re pushing young minds to dream, design, and build at the intersection of creativity and technology,” he said.

The top 10 shortlisted teams will present their ideas at a special showcase during the WAVES 2025 in Mumbai. The winners of the challenge will be felicitated at the grand finale by the ministry.

                                        

About Indian Digital Gaming Society

The IDGS is a premier industry body promoting video gaming and esports, interactive media, and digital entertainment in India, fostering talent development, innovation, and industry collaborations.

 

About WAVES

The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit, a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.

Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.

WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

Have questions? Find answers here 

Stay updated with the latest announcements from PIB Team WAVES

Register for WAVES now

 

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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Riyas Babu/ Darshana | 89

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(Release ID: 2120522) Visitor Counter : 79

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 09 APR 2025 7:11PM by PIB Delhi

The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), successfully organized the 18th National Seminar at Goa University, Panaji, Goa, on 8th and 9th April 2025. The seminar focused on survey findings from NSS 78th Round: Multiple Indicator Survey (MIS), 79th Round: CAMS and AYUSH, the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES), and the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).

The seminar was inaugurated by Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General (NSS) and was graced by the presence of Shri Pravin Srivastava, Former Secretary, MoSPI & Chief Statistician of India and Prof. Harilal B. Menon, Vice Chancellor of Goa University.

In his Welcome Address, ADG (CQCD), NSO highlighted the Ministry’s focus on transparency, timeliness, and digital innovation in survey implementation. The Inaugural Address by DG (NSS) emphasized MoSPI’s continued technological evolution in data collection process and initiatives such as monthly PLFS estimates, district-level labour statistics, and the upcoming Domestic Tourism and National Household Travel Surveys.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Menon underscored the collaborative role of academic institutions in advancing a culture of data-driven decision-making, calling statistics “a tool for social listening” that amplifies citizens’ voices. The Vice-Chancellor mentioned that Goa University is the first in India to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) curriculum, which mandates the submission of research papers in the final semester of all master’s programs, where NSS data plays a crucial role. He emphasized that the seminar would serve as the starting point for future collaborative efforts, which will be highly encouraged and greatly beneficial for students, researchers, and scholars alike.

Following the inaugural session, the cultural programme featured an exquisite Bharatnatyam dance performance and the vibrant Goan folk dance, Fhugdi, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of India.

Out of 225 participants, 125 were students, researchers, and scholars from various universities, institutes across Goa, and other organizations. Their active engagement over the two-day event made it a dynamic and impactful gathering

The seminar featured a total of five technical sessions wherein 14 papers were presented by the researchers, academia, and government officials from various institutions and discussed their research papers based on the survey findings. These papers provided rich insights into ICT skill disparities, financial inclusion, youth digital literacy, household consumption patterns, Prediction of NSS estimates using Machine Learning Approach, Exploration of features of Multidimensional Poverty using Neural Network, AYUSH healthcare usage, contract labour trends, informal sector productivity, and app-based service dynamics, among others. The robust empirical analyses underscored the value of NSS and other national datasets for informed policymaking.

Each of the technical sessions was chaired by experts and professors from reputed academic institutions, as well as senior officers from the MoSPI. These included Dr. G.C. Manna, Former Chairman of the Working Group of NSS 78th Round; Shri Pravin Srivastava, Former Chairman of the Working Group of 79th Round and ex-CSI; Shri Siddhartha Kundu, ADG, Household Survey Division, NSO, MoSPI; Prof. Ankush Agrawal, Professor of Economics, IIT Delhi; Shri Salil Kumar Mukhopadhyay, ADG, Enterprise Survey Division, NSO, MoSPI; and Prof. Badri Narayan Rath, Professor, IIT Hyderabad.

A special session was also conducted featuring presentations from Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and private survey agency to discuss the utility and practical applications of NSS data in programme design and policy formulation.

All authors and presenters of papers at the two-day National Seminar were felicitated by the NSO, MoSPI through a certificate distribution ceremony.

Delivering the Concluding Remarks, Shri Pravin Srivastava, Former Secretary, MoSPI and Chief Statistician of India, praised the presenters and emphasized the importance of collaboration between official statisticians and critics. He noted MoSPI’s introduction of a new curriculum incorporating NSS data for internal research, boosting data standards. He also highlighted innovations like AI and CAPI, which have enhanced data quality and reduced respondent burden.

The seminar concluded with a collective resolve to deepen the synergy between data producers and users, strengthen the statistical system’s responsiveness, and promote evidence-based governance across sectors.

For more details on survey reports and upcoming statistical initiatives, please visit the official MoSPI website: www.mospi.gov.in

Watch the recorded sessions on MoSPI’s YouTube Channel: @GoIStats.

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Samrat/Allen

(Release ID: 2120545) Visitor Counter : 52

Source: Government of India

Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu launches Aviation Career Guidance Programme at Indian Aviation Academy

Inspires Students to Dream Sky-High

Posted On: 09 APR 2025 7:03PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ram Mohan Naidu today launched a ‘Career Guidance Programme in Aviation’ for school students, with the inaugural session held at the Indian Aviation Academy, New Delhi. The initiative aims to inspire and educate students of Classes 11 and 12 about diverse career pathways within the aviation sector — from piloting and air traffic control to aircraft design, airport management, and beyond.

An interactive session was conducted by women pilots, during which they addressed students’ queries and shared insights from their professional journeys. The students participated with great enthusiasm, making it a highly engaging and inspiring exchange.

Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, the youngest cabinet minister in India, addressed the students and shared the vision behind this initiative. “We want to capture that passion. We want to have more people involved in aviation. The way that Indian aviation is growing is like no other country,” he said, while highlighting the importance of nurturing talent early to match the pace of India’s booming aviation ecosystem.

Shri Ram Mohan Naidu further emphasized the scale of upcoming opportunities: “There Is a demand of 1700 new planes, and each plane creates a demand of 15 to 20 pilots. That means you’re creating 34,000 jobs on just pilots itself. We don’t want foreigners to come here and pilot our planes. We want our own Indian students… our Indian community to cater to the demand that’s grown domestically.”

Underscoring the government’s achievements and future roadmap, the Minister noted, “In 2014, there were 74 airports. We doubled it up. Now the number of airports in the country is up to 159. And now I’ll be the Minister for the next five years and I want to plan to build 50 more airports. The government has decided that in the next 10 years, we have to bring 120 new destinations in the country.”

Shri Naidu encouraged students to take ownership of their aspirations. “Each one of those planes you see up are not just aircrafts, but they are a whole universe of possibilities waiting for your approval,” he said. “As early as you decide, as early as you tap into the passion that you have, it becomes much easier for you to guide yourself in that path,” he added.

In addition to policy support and infrastructure expansion, the Minister highlighted key legislative reforms, such as the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam and the Aircraft Protection of Interest in Aircraft Object Bill, which aim to bolster the domestic aviation ecosystem and stimulate employment.

Special attention was given to the presence and encouragement of women pilots at the event. “Much of the focus has been because there are a lot of charming pilots here, especially the women pilots who have given you patiently, heard you and given you all the answers,” Shri Ram Mohan Naidu said, inspiring young students to look beyond traditional career perceptions.

With India poised to become a global aviation hub, this initiative marks a strategic move to align young talent with the country’s ambitious aviation growth trajectory.

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Beena Yadav/Divyanshu Kumar

(Release ID: 2120543) Visitor Counter : 91

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 09 APR 2025 6:54PM by PIB Delhi

 In a significant move to enhance transparency and empower mobile subscribers, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have published mobile network coverage maps on their websites, as per the mandate given by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Earlier, TRAI released revised Regulations namely “The Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wirelines and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 (06 of 2024)’ on 02^nd August 2024. These regulations have become effective from 1st October 2024 and applicable for both access and broadband services provided on wireline as well as wireless media.

The regulations mandates that “Every service provider providing access service (wireless) shall publish on its website the service wise geospatial coverage maps in such a manner and format, as may be directed by the Authority from time to time, for the geographical areas where wireless voice or wireless broadband service is available for subscription by consumers.” As per the regulations, the publication of mobile network coverage map was to be completed by 1^st April 2025.

 To ensure uniformity of coverage maps across the TSPs and their timely rollout, TRAI issued detailed technical guidelines for publication of mobile network coverage map vide Direction no RG-17/(3)/2022-QoS dated 22^nd November 2024. Copy of the same is available on TRAI website (https://trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/2024-11/Direction_22112024.pdf).

In compliance with the requirement of the QoS regulations, TSPs have now published mobile network coverage maps on their respective websites. Details of their links are as follows:

 

To enable easy user access, these links of mobile coverage maps have been consolidated on TRAI website. The coverage maps of different service providers can also be accessed on TRAI website using following path :

TRAI Website (www.trai.gov.in) à Consumer Info à Mobile Coverage Map à [Service Provider]               

The newly introduced coverage maps offer a variety of user-friendly features for easy accessibility and navigation with standard color scheme. It also provides the option to see the coverage of specific technology like 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G offered by respective TSP in their area of interest. Users can use search options or enable location on their device to navigate to their current location. The toggle switch or technology selection button may be used to select coverage maps of technology of their interest i.e. 2G/3G/4G/5G etc.

The mobile subscribers may share their feedback or report any major discrepancy in coverage representation with their service provider through user feedback feature available on coverage maps. However, users may kindly note that actual mobile coverage experience may sometime vary from the coverage shown in map, including in indoor areas, as it depends upon various dynamic parameters.

The mobile network coverage maps are not only useful for subscribers but also provide status of telecom coverage across the country which can be used by different stakeholders for planning and rollout of e-enabled initiatives. These maps may also be used for data driven evaluation of requirements of any regulatory or policy intervention.

For any clarification/information, Shri Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-I) TRAI may be contacted on email: adv-qos1@trai.gov.in or at Tel. No. +91-11-20907759.

 

 

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Samrat/ Allen

(Release ID: 2120539) Visitor Counter : 135

Source: Government of India

Workshop on Developing Ecosystem for Assistive Technology in India” Organised by NITI Aayog

Organised in Collaboration with Govt of Maharashtra

Posted On: 09 APR 2025 6:37PM by PIB Delhi

NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, organised a workshop on the theme “Developing Ecosystem for Assistive Technology in India” at YASHADA, Pune today.

The workshop was inaugurated by Shri Sanjay Shirsat, Minister of Social Justice and Special Assistance Department, Govt of Maharashtra. Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Smt. Sujata Saunik, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, Dr. Rajib Kumar Sen, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, Shri Niranjan Kumar Sudhanshu, Director General, YASHADA, and Shri K.S. Rejimon, Joint Secretary, NITI Aayog, were also present among other dignitaries.

In his inaugural address, Hon’ble Minister highlighted the importance of domestic capabilty of AT industry and its role in promoting inclusivity.

Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, in his special address, emphasised the need for developing an eco-system for Assistive Technology which is critical for social inclusion in achieving the vision@2047.

The day long workshop included three sessions deliberating the challenges, gaps, best practices, initiatives and role of Central Government, State Govt., International organisation, Industry/ Start-ups etc.

The first session focused on “Improving Access to Assistive Technology in India”. The session provided a comprehensive view of how key government initiatives, policies, and inter-sectoral collaborations which are playing a transformative role in making assistive technologies more accessible for persons with disabilities (PwDs), the elderly, and other marginalised communities. 

In the second session on “State Initiatives in Assistive Technology”, The representatives from state Governments of Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, highlighted how targeted policies, partnerships, and on-the-ground efforts are improving the reach and impact of AT.

The third session of the Assistive Technology workshop focused on “AT Manufacturing and Global Collaborations” brought forth significance of fostering a strong domestic manufacturing base for AT and the immense value of global partnerships. Representatives of WHO, UNDP, ATSCale (UNOPS), World Bank, AssisTech Foundation and Tynor, highlighted the key role of global collaborations in advancing AT in India, as India aspires to become a global hub for AT innovation and manufacturing.

In the Concluding session Shri Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment addressed the participants and underscored the importance of building an inclusive society.

The deliberations and suggestions emerged during the workshop will pave the way for developing an eco-system for Assistive Technology in India to achieve Viksit Bharat vision @2047 of building an inclusive society.

 

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MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2120533) Visitor Counter : 89

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The search and rescue team deployed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to the quake-stricken areas of Myanmar to assist in the search and rescue work, returned to Hong Kong last night after completing its mission.

Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the team at Hong Kong International Airport.

In his speech, Mr Lee said that the search and rescue team members overcame numerous difficulties and raced against time through their professional training, determined will and immense courage, fully demonstrating professionalism in fearlessly braving challenges and caring for those in distress.

Upon completion of the operation in Mantalay, Myanmar, the China and the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue teams arrived in Beijing yesterday afternoon.

Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung and Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung welcomed the teams at Beijing Capital International Airport then flew to Hong Kong together with the Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team last night.

The Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team departed for Myanmar on March 29 to conduct search and rescue work in Mantalay – one of the worst-hit areas.

The team conducted joint operations with the China search and rescue teams for days and successfully rescued one survivor. In addition, the Hong Kong SAR team found two bodies under the debris.

The 51-strong Hong Kong SAR search and rescue team comprised firemen, ambulancemen and fire services workshops personnel, as well as officers from the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department and the Hospital Authority.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed strong disapproval of and discontent with the US’ further imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff.

Starting May 2, the US will eliminate the duty-free de minimis treatment for covered goods from Hong Kong as well as increase the tariff for mail containing goods to the US.

In a statement, the Hong Kong SAR Government said the US no longer upholds free trade, arbitrarily undermining the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) jointly established by the international community, seriously impeding the multilateral trading system and globalisation process, and disrupting the global supply chain, adding that its measures are bullying and unreasonable.

It pointed out that the US’ imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariff against Hong Kong that has never implemented any tariffs is totally illogical and ungrounded, fully showing that it is a bullying act for suppressing its competitors.

The US will eliminate the duty-free de minimis treatment for postal items despatched from Hong Kong to the US from May 2, and has been continuously changing its policies unilaterally, causing a lot of confusion and inconvenience to the public.

For sending items to the US, the Hong Kong public should be prepared to pay exorbitant fees due to the US’ unreasonable and bullying acts.

Hongkong Post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the US authorities. For now, Hongkong Post will temporarily maintain postal services to the US and announce later the temporary suspension arrangement for postal services to the US.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said it will continue to closely monitor and assess any unilateral measures of the US that are inconsistent with fair trade and take actions to defend Hong Kong’s legitimate interests, including filing a complaint in accordance with the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.

Meanwhile, it will maintain close liaison with the business community to jointly respond to the unreasonable coercion of the US.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Influenza vaccines currently used in Hong Kong are safe and effective, and the side effects of flu vaccines are usually mild and transient, the Centre for Health Protection said today.

The centre made the statement in response to media enquiries on the safety of the influenza vaccine.

Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Edwin Tsui noted the influenza vaccination has been scientifically proven to be one of the most safe and effective ways to prevent seasonal flu and its complications, and can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death from seasonal influenza, adding that Hong Kong has established a pharmacovigilance system to monitor adverse events following immunisation.

He pointed out that in the past five years, over eight million doses of the influenza vaccine have been administered and there have been no deaths reported after vaccination.

Except those with known contraindications, all people aged six months and above, particularly those who have a higher risk of getting infected with influenza and developing complications, such as the elderly and children, should receive the seasonal flu vaccine every year.

Dr Tsui said: “Severe cases related to seasonal influenza involving adults and cases of severe paediatric influenza-associated complication recorded in the recent flu season were significantly lower than in the influenza season before the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that this is the result of the general public’s willingness to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine.”

Local data showed that the rate of severe influenza complications among children who did not receive the seasonal influenza vaccination of the current season is about four times that of vaccinated children.

Among the elderly, the rate of severe influenza including death among residents of the residential care homes aged 65 years or above who did not receive seasonal flu vaccination of the current season is 2.3 times that of vaccinated residents.

The data highlighted the important protective role of seasonal influenza vaccination against severe infection and death.

Dr Tsui noted that influenza vaccines currently used in Hong Kong, including inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) and live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), are safe and effective.

Traditional IIV has been used for decades. The vaccine has proven to be safe and reliable through repeated testing and quality assessment. The safety of the newer LAIV and RIV is comparable to that of IIV.

He added that the World Health Organization has also indicated that vaccination is the most effective means to prevent serious illness arising from flu.

The side effects of influenza vaccines are usually mild and transient, and the most common include pain and redness at the injection site. Some recipients may experience fever, chills, muscle pain and tiredness. Severe adverse reactions to influenza vaccines are very rare.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Correctional Services Department today held a national security education student forum and premiered two national security education microfilms that it produced.

The two microfilms, Momentary Glory and Unfailing Love, adapted from real cases, feature stories of teenagers who were incited to commit illegal acts which endanger national security and paid a heavy price. Through the productions, the department hopes to raise public awareness of safeguarding national security, enhance citizens’ ability to think critically and discerningly, and raise their awareness of abiding by the law.

The microfilms will be uploaded to various official media platforms of the Correctional Services Department and the Education Bureau on April 15 – National Security Education Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk said that the Correctional Services Department has gone beyond the prison walls to promote community crime prevention education.

Such education helps nurture young people to love the country and Hong Kong, be law-abiding citizens, and have a positive mindset, he elaborated.

Mr Cheuk also expressed hope that students, through Momentary Glory, could understand that they should think twice and not commit crimes, in order to avoid lifelong regrets.

Today’s forum also featured a video clip of the individual on which one of the microfilms was based. In the video, he shared how he repented, as well as his feelings after being misled into committing illegal acts and ultimately being sentenced to imprisonment.

There was also an interactive session in the forum, allowing students to express their views and think from multiple perspectives.

Moreover, the department arranged for rehabilitated individuals to talk about the cost for committing crimes, and their rehabilitation experiences, with a view to reminding students to refrain from engaging in illegal activities.