Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Government of India

India Showcases Creative and Technological Might at WAVES 2025

Discussions at WAVES on AI, Social Media and Advertising reflect India’s expanding footprint in the Digital Media sector

Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 9:24PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai, 1 May 2025

The inaugural session of WAVES 2025 was graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who officially opened the summit at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. In his keynote address, PM Modi emphasized India’s rich storytelling heritage and its potential to become a global hub for content creation. He highlighted the convergence of content, creativity, and culture as the pillars of the ‘Orange Economy,’ urging creators worldwide to “Create in India, Create for the World.” The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Indian cinema legends by releasing commemorative postage stamps. He called upon global creators to explore India’s diverse narratives, stating that every street, mountain, and river in India carries a story waiting to be told. The session was attended by dignitaries from over 100 countries, industry leaders, and renowned artists, marking a significant step in India’s journey to becoming a creative superpower.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2125725

AI and Creativity: Adobe and NVIDIA Chart the Future

Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe, highlighted India’s emergence as a global hub of creativity powered by digital tools and generative AI. With over 100 million content creators and 500 million OTT consumers, Narayen described India as “the world’s next creative superpower.” He showcased Adobe’s Firefly AI models and stressed ethical AI, content authenticity, and creator attribution as vital for sustainable growth.

In a fireside chat, Richard Kerris and Vishal Dhupar of NVIDIA explored how AI is revolutionizing the creative pipeline—allowing content to be generated, localized, and personalized at scale. “India has long exported talent. Now it can export culture,” Kerris declared, emphasizing AI’s ability to amplify regional voices and transform India into a storytelling giant.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2125947

YouTube to offer more support to boost the Creator Economy

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced a ₹850 crore investment to accelerate India’s creator economy, citing over 15,000 Indian channels with more than 1 million subscribers. Joined by global creators Mark Rober and Gautami Kawale (Slayy Point), Mohan underlined YouTube’s role in taking Indian stories global. “India isn’t just leading in music and film—it’s now a Creator Nation,” he said. Kawale shared how regional Indian content, when rooted in culture, has universal appeal, while Rober spoke about the power of STEM content crossing borders through AI-enabled dubbing and localization.

WPP and the Advertising Renaissance

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, described the advertising industry’s $1 trillion global footprint and its shift towards AI-led storytelling. He unveiled WPP’s open video production platform and shared a campaign featuring Shah Rukh Khan to demonstrate hyper-personalized content creation using motion AI. “AI is not replacing creativity—it is expanding it,” Read said, outlining the role of MSMEs and digital tools in democratizing access to quality advertising.

 

Global Collaboration: UK-India Cultural Pact

In a keynote that blended diplomacy and personal heritage, Lisa Nandy, UK Secretary of State for DCMS, emphasized the cultural bridge between India and the UK. She announced a Bilateral Cultural Federation Agreement to strengthen ties across cinema, museums, and performing arts. “From Manchester to Mumbai, we must empower the next generation of storytellers,” she urged, citing the legacy of figures like Sophia Duleep Singh and modern UK-Indian creatives.

Panel Highlights: AI, Culture, and Influence; Two panel discussions deepened the discourse:

“India M&E @100: The Future of Media and Entertainment” featured leaders from Eros Now, Jetsynthesys, and GroupM. They emphasized that India is in the fourth wave of disruption, where AI-led IP creation and Gen Z consumption patterns are reshaping the industry.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2125886

“The Business of Influence”, moderated by YouTube’s Gautam Anand, showcased creators like Chef Ranveer Brar, ChessTalk’s Jeetendra Advani, and Japanese YouTuber Mayo Murasaki. From chess to agriculture, they demonstrated how digital platforms are taking Indian knowledge global while preserving cultural authenticity.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2125889

 

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TEAM PIB WAVES 2025: Rajith/LekshmiPriya/CShekhar|137

(Release ID: 2125960) Visitor Counter : 76

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​The Government published in the Gazette today (May 2) the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulation 2025 to revise the eight types of fees and three sets of economic costs payable as specified under the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations (Cap 28A).
 
     The revision cover the following categories:
 
(a) fees payable in respect of processing the applications for excavations and issuing excavation permits (XP) by the Government in relation to excavations in unleased land covering the extent in streets maintained by the Highways Department (HyD) and unleased land other than streets maintained by the HyD; and
 
(b) economic costs charged for the whole duration of the extended period of excavations in a street maintained by the HyD.
 
A spokesman for the Development Bureau said, “In line with the ‘user pays’ principle, it is the Government’s policy that fees charged by the Government should in general be set at levels adequate to recover the full cost of providing the services.
 
     “The Government implemented a fee review moratorium on government fees and charges set on a cost recovery basis from August 2019 to December 2021. Starting from early 2022, the Government has gradually resumed the review of various fees. This is the first revision proposal for the above-mentioned fees and economic costs since the lifting of the fee review moratorium.
 
     “In order to achieve full cost recovery gradually and avoid a steep fee increase, the eight types of fees payable in respect of processing the applications for excavations and issuing XP by the Government will be increased by 8 per cent to 20 per cent. In addition, three sets of economic costs charged for the whole duration of the extended period of excavations in a street maintained by the HyD will be increased by 24 per cent to 25 per cent to drive the excavation permittees to complete their works as soon as possible so as to minimise the disturbance to the road users.
 
     “As stated in the Information Paper to the Legislative Council Panel on Development dated July 15, 2024, the service users involved in the subject fees and economic costs are mainly public utilities (such as electricity companies, telecommunication companies, and the town gas company). The subject fees and economic costs should represent a minute portion (amounting to around 0.1 per cent) of the total operating cost of the public utilities. Thus, the proposed increases should have a limited impact on their operations. The relevant stakeholders have been consulted on the proposed fee revision. They did not raise any comment on the proposed fee revision.”
 
     The Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on May 7. Subject to approval by negative vetting, the revised fees and economic costs will come into effect on July 1 this year.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Government announced today (May 2) that the Chief Executive has appointed five new members and reappointed nine incumbent members to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) for a term of two years with effect from May 20, 2025.

The newly appointed members are:

Dr Eliza Chan Ching-har
Ms Aruna Gurung
Revd Canon Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming
Dr Lui Wai-cheung
Mr Symon Wong Yu-wing

The reappointed members are:

Ms Queenie Chan Lai-kwan
Ms Choi Yi-tak
Miss Lily Chow
Dr Theresa Cunanan
Mr James Mathew Fong
Mr Vishal Melwani
Miss Shirley To Shuk-yi
Ms Linda Tsang Chi-man
Dr Kitty Wu Kit-ying

     “The membership of the EOC represents a variety of expertise and sectors, including women; persons with disabilities; ethnic minorities; members from the employment, social services, legal, accounting, academic and education sectors; and the community at large. Their experience and expertise are instrumental to the work of the EOC in promoting equal opportunities,” said a Government spokesperson.

     “We would like to take the opportunity to thank Mr Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, Dr Henry Shie Wai-hung, Ms Anna Thompson, Dr Rizwan Ullah, and Mr Gary Wong Chi-him, who will be stepping down from the EOC, for their staunch support for the work of the Commission over the years.”

     “We look forward to the continuous concerted efforts of the Chairperson of the EOC as well as its members in constructing a more harmonious, inclusive and caring Hong Kong,” the spokesperson added.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has once again invited members of “Fountain de Chopin”, a local emerging jazz music group, as the speakers and demonstrators for a  ecture demonstration series entitled “Jazz Appreciation from Legends” that will be held from June to August. This new series consists of 10 lectures, each featuring one renowned jazz musician and his/her profound impact on future generations in each lecture. Complemented by live demonstrations of the musicians’ iconic compositions, audiences will be guided to appreciate the unique styles of various jazz music genres.

     Details of each lecture are as follows:——————————————–
Date: June 6 (Friday)———————————————
Date: June 13 (Friday)———————————————
Date: June 20 (Friday)———————————————
Date: July 4 (Friday)———————————————
Date: July 11 (Friday)———————————————
Date: July 18 (Friday)———————————————
Date: August 1 (Friday)———————————————
Date: August 8 (Friday)———————————————
Date: August 15 (Friday)———————————————
Date: August 29 (Friday)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Police announced today (May 2) that the “floating colours” parade in Cheung Chau on May 5 is expected to draw a large number of spectators. Crowd safety management measures and special arrangements will be implemented. Police urge members of the public to plan their trips in advance.
 
A. Crowd safety management measures
 
     Depending on crowd conditions, crowd safety management measures will be implemented on the following roads:
 
– Pak She Street;
– â� San Hing Street;
– Tung Wan Road;
– Praya Street;
– Tai San Praya Road;
– Tai Hing Tai Road;
– Chung Hing Street;
– Tai Tsoi Yuen Road;
– Tai San Back Street;
– Hing Lung Main Street;
– â� San Hing Back Street;
– Man Shun Lane; and
– Kwok Man Road.
 
     “No staying zones” will be set up outside Cheung Chau Ferry Pier, Cheung Chau Public Pier and Shing Cheong Lane, where members of the public are prohibited from staying.
 
     Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience, and take heed of instructions of the Police on site. They are also reminded to look after the accompanying children and elderly.
 
B. Ferry services
 
     To facilitate the dispersal of spectators from the “floating colours” parade, the ferry company will increase the frequency of trips between Central and Cheung Chau. Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the latest arrangements announced by the ferry company before leaving home.
 
     Police anticipate that the peak period for individuals departing from Cheung Chau will occur from 5pm to 6pm. During this time, those queuing at Cheung Chau Ferry Pier are advised to exercise patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site. Members of the public are advised to avoid the peak time unless necessary.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Attention TV and radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 2) that due to the sighting of a suspected red tide, the red flag has been hoisted at Silver Mine Bay Beach in Islands District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach until further notice.