MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Government of India

Aatmanirbhar Bharat: MoD inks Rs 6,900 crore contracts for 155mm/52 Calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems & High Mobility Vehicle 6×6 Gun Towing Vehicles to enhance Indian Army’s operational readiness

Capital procurement pacts worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore signed in FY 2024-25 till date

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 5:30PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed contracts with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced System Limited for the procurement of 155mm/52 Calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and High Mobility Vehicle 6×6 Gun Towing Vehicles respectively at a total cost of about Rs 6,900 crore. The contracts were signed in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block in New Delhi on March 26, 2025.

With the signing, total contracts worth Rs 1.40 lakh crore have been signed by MoD for capital procurement till date in the current Financial Year 2024-25. During the contract signing, the Project Director of ATAGS from DRDO’s Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune who played a pivotal role in the realisation of the project was felicitated by the Defence Secretary as an honour for his immense contribution.

The 155 mm/52 Calibre ATAGS will replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns and enhance the artillery capabilities of the Indian Army. The procurement of this gun system marks a significant milestone in the modernisation of the Artillery Regiments, enhancing operational readiness. ATAGS, renowned for its exceptional lethality, will play a crucial role in bolstering the Army’s firepower by enabling precise and long-range strikes.

Being the first major procurement of towed guns from the private sector by the Indian Army, the project will provide a boost to the Indian gun manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing eco-system as a whole. This project is a proud flag-bearers of Aatmnanirbhar Bharat by significantly contributing to employment generation and economic growth in consonance with the Make-in-India initiative.

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VK/SR/Savvy

 

(Release ID: 2115365) Visitor Counter : 3636

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 5:29PM by PIB Delhi

The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a digital initiative designed to make legislative proceedings of all State/UT Legislatures paperless from end to end. It promotes transparency by providing online access to live-streaming sessions, records of debates, legislative proceedings, and other important legislative documents.

The NeVA platform provides access to a wide range of records and documents related to key Parliamentary/Legislative functions of legislative bodies, who have on-boarded the platform, including List of Business, Questions and their Replies, Notices, Debates, Proceedings, Bills, Committee Reports, and Papers Laid, etc.

The NeVA Public Portal is already available in 23 languages to ensure wider access and encourage linguistic inclusivity.

As part of capacity building measures, workshops-cum-training programmes are conducted to acquaint all its stakeholders i.e. Members, Staff of Legislatures and Government Departments about the application. Furthermore, under the project e-Learning cum e-Facilitation Centres i.e. NeVA Sewa Kendras (NSK) are set up to facilitate the training and capacity building of the stakeholders.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice; Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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SS/ISA

(Release ID: 2115364) Visitor Counter : 315

Source: Government of India

NHRC, India presents awards to the seven winners of its short films on Human Rights competition in 2024

NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian, says the Commission’s short film competition on human rights effectively fulfilling its purpose of creating awareness about human rights for a decade now

Says the increasing number of entries in the NHRC short film competition from various parts of the country in different languages since 2015 indicates growing human rights awareness

Congratulating the winners he describes all the participants in the competition as the brand ambassadors of human rights

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 5:24PM by PIB Delhi

The National human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, today organised a function at its premises in New Delhi to felicitate and present awards to the seven winners of its short film competition on human rights in 2024. Addressing the gathering, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, NHRC, India, said that the objective of the Commission is to create awareness to promote and protect human rights. Its short film competition on human rights has been very effectively fulfilling this purpose for a decade. NHRC Members, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, and Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal and other senior officers were present.

Justice Ramasubramanian said that in the inaugural run of this competition in 2015, only about 40 entries were received. In its tenth year, in 2024, more than 300 entries were received from different parts of the country. This shows, how significantly the human rights awareness and this event has gained traction with people from Kashmir to Kanyakumari choosing to make films in various Indian languages on various human rights and make people aware about them, which is heartening to know.

Congratulating the seven award winners, Justice Subramanian said that the awarded films have touched a range of human rights issues, including river water pollution, the value of potable water, child marriage and education, rights of older persons, rights violations due to certain religious practices, women’s rights and domestic violence. He appreciated all the participants and described them as the brand ambassadors of human rights. He expressed the hope that next year they would make more films on human rights and win awards.

Before this, NHRC, India Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi in his remarks said that all the seven films carried different messages. He said that the films are an effective medium to promote and protect human rights among masses. He particularly highlighted the documentary Doodh Ganga, which indicates how the pollution has changed the landscape of the valley that needs to be addressed.

NHRC, India Member, Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani said that the winners have worked tirelessly to bring the stories to life to challenge stereotypes, break societal barriers, and empower people to think, feel and act. She said that their dedication is not just about filmmaking but about advocacy, courage and commitment to a better world. Every frame they have captured and message delivered contributes towards a greater cause where human dignity is respected, voices are heard, and justice prevails.

Earlier, the NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, in his opening remarks, gave an overview of the short film competition of the NHRC, which started in 2015 each year with an increased number of entries with quality films. He said that for the tenth edition of the competition in 2024, a total of 303 entries were received. After initial scrutiny, 243 went into the fray for the awards decided by three rounds of rigorous jury process including the final round chaired by the NHRC Chairperson, and Members, and senior officers deciding the seven winners.He said that all the awarded films will be uploaded on the website of the Commission, like in previous years. These are open to screening for human rights awareness purposes by government departments, training and academic institutions, as well as civil society.

NHRC, India Director, Lt. Col. Virender Singh announced the names of the prize winners. Er. Abdul Rashid Bhat’s film ‘Doodh Ganga- Valley’s Dying Lifeline’ was awarded the first prize of Rs. 2 lakh, a trophy and a certificate. The documentary film from Jammu & Kashmir raises concerns about how the free flow of various wastes into the pristine water of the Doodh Ganga River has polluted it and the need for its restoration for the overall good of the people in the valley. The film is in English, Hindi and Urdu with subtitles in English.

The second prize of Rs. 1.5 lakh, a trophy and a certificate were given to ‘Fight for Rights’ by Kadarappa Raju from Andhra Pradesh. The film raises the issue of child marriage and education. It is in Telugu language with subtitles in English.

The third prize of Rs. 1 lakh, a trophy and a certificate was given to ‘GOD’ by Shri R. Ravichandran from Tamil Nadu The silent film through an old protagonist raises the value of potable water.

The four films were awarded ‘Certificate of Special Mention’ with Rs 50,000 each. These included: ‘Aksharabhyasam’ by Shri Haneesh Undramatla from Telangana; ‘Vilayilla Pattathari (An inexpensive graduate)’ by Shri R. Selvam from Tamil Nadu; ‘Life of Seetha’ by Shri Madaka Venkata Satyanarayana from Andhra Pradesh and ‘Be a Human’ by Shri Lotla Naveen from Andhra Pradesh.

The award-winners also shared the thoughts behind the making of their award-winning short films.

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NSK

(Release ID: 2115356) Visitor Counter : 387

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit Gala Dinner today (March 26):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good evening. What a pleasure it is to be here again with you tonight. 

I am sure you all came away inspired by today’s insightful discussions and engaging speakers. 

Tonight, let me touch on a recurrent subject that has come up in many of the meetings this week: why Hong Kong and not another city in the region or the Mainland. 

Let me explain why.   

Under the “one country, two systems” arrangement, Hong Kong is where the China advantage and international advantage converge. For foreign companies seeking to tap the vast consumer market of China and North Asia, Hong Kong is the natural choice. 

Take the Greater Bay Area for example. It is home to 87 million people, with a per capita GDP of US$23,000, or US$40,000, on a purchasing power parity basis. Its young population aspires to quality products and services from around the world. It is a massive consumer market. Hong Kong is your gateway to the Mainland market.  

At the same time, through the Northbound Connect Schemes, you can also access the Mainland’s stocks, bonds, ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and derivatives via Hong Kong, capturing the emerging investment opportunities in an efficient and familiar business and legal environment.

Our country’s steady and long-term growth prospects are promising, not to mention breakthroughs in technological innovation. The recent DeepSeek phenomenon has very much spoken for this. 

 “Deep”, indeed, is a key word for Hong Kong’s capital markets. 

As a leading fund-raising centre, our stock market boasts a capitalisation of US$5 trillion. It raised US$11 billion through IPOs last year, ranking fourth globally. More leading Mainland tech companies are lining up to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This year, we are expecting to raise US$17 to 20 billion in IPOs. 

     Consider listing your company on our Stock Exchange. Under the Southbound Connect Schemes, you will be able to access both Mainland and international capital here, greatly enhancing the liquidity and valuation of your stock.  

Hong Kong is a city of seamless connectivity. Take a high speed train, and you can reach Shenzhen in 15 minutes, and Guangzhou in 45 minutes. Take a morning plane to Beijing or Shanghai, have a whole day of meetings with your business partners, enjoy a nice dinner and fly back. All in a single day.  

The Hong Kong International Airport indeed connects 200 destinations with 1 000 flights each day. Half of the world’s population is within five hours’ reach. 

More than business and investments, Hong Kong offers an enviable lifestyle unmatched by other Asian cities. 

Our city is home to scenic hills, spectacular hiking trails, stunning beaches and outlying islands. You can walk to our seaside paths and country parks from the very heart of our skyscraper city. And walking in our city is a safe activity. Hong Kong has excellent law and order. It is one of the safest metropolitan cities in the world.

 Some 200 Michelin-recommended restaurants are brimming with East and West culinary fare. We don’t impose duty on wine. And duty on spirits has also been lowered just recently.   

Hong Kong offers the best education for your children. More than 50 international schools operate in this city, providing a wide range of curricula, including American, British, German-Swiss, Japanese, Korean, and even Singaporean – giving you a plenty of choices. And five of our universities rank among the world’s top 100. 

Above all, Hong Kong is the ideal place for you to nurture your biggest dreams. Here, artistry meets ambition, and possibility becomes legacy.   

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here, for taking part in this year’s Wealth for Good Summit. 

I know you will enjoy tonight’s Gala Dinner and the good people all about you, including the very special musical entertainment waiting in the wings for me to stop talking. 

Allow me now to propose a toast, to raise our glasses in celebration: to health and prosperity, to an evening, and a lifetime, blessed with inspiration. Cheers!

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

MIRDC’s Enduring-High-Efficiency Combustion System for Industrial Furnace (EHE Combustion System) received 2024 R&D 100 Awards. The furnace is equipped with self-recuperative burners which are operated by intelligent burner operating principle (IntelliBurn).

The burners draw furnace flue gas into their internal heat exchangers, and thermal energy from the high-temperature flue gas is transferred to combustion air. The process preheats the combustion air before it is burned. However, heat exchangers within the self-recuperative burners will gradually decrease in energy-saving efficiency because of issues such as material degradation from thermal shock, carbon accumulation and other problems. Under the IntelliBurn computational framework, the integration of AI machine learning and big data predicts heat release and determines the required furnace power. Therefore, the IntelliBurn dynamically controls multi-burners by adjusting their ignition timings and switching modes based on real-time furnace conditions for optimal performances. As a result, the EHE Combustion System achieves up to 72% waste heat recovery, Plus-Minus 3 degrees Celsius temperature uniformity, and 25% energy savings. Heat-exchange efficiency is also maintained at over 95% of initial capability of heat exchangers.

The technology has been applied to two Taiwanese companies by renovating their old furnaces. A foundry renovates its annealing furnace for castings, and temperature uniformity of its renovated furnace improves from Plus-Minus 20 degrees Celsius to Plus-Minus 10 degrees Celsius. This ensures that the deformation and vibration modes of each casting become stable, meeting requirements of high-end machine tool models and saving over 20% energy. MIRDC also assists an aluminum company to improve its heat treatment furnace with this technology. The renovated furnace helps the company process 190 tons of large aluminum ingots and achieves 270 tons of carbon reduction annually. In the future, MIRDC will continue to put its efforts behind perfecting the technology and introduce it to more Taiwanese industries.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi led the delegation to the 14th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting convened in Lima, Peru, on August 15 and 16, sharing Taiwan’s achievements in renewable energy development, just energy transition experience, and hydrogen energy development goals. All attending member economies and industry representatives agreed that energy transition should be carried out in a just, orderly, and inclusive manner, while also recognizing the importance of clean and low-carbon hydrogen energy to reduction of GHG emissions.

This year’s meeting was chaired by Peru Minister of Energy and Mines Romulo Mucho, and all attending member economies agreed to issue a joint ministerial statement, welcoming the establishment of the “Just Energy Transition Initiative,” and endorsed the “APEC Policy Guidance to Develop and Implement Clean and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Policy Frameworks in the Asia-Pacific.”

In his remark during discussion on “advancing energy transitions across the APEC region,” Deputy Minister Chen shared Taiwan’s recognition of the importance of just energy transition to a net-zero future, and explained the government’s introduction of the innovative Aquavoltaics Development policy due to Taiwan’s limited land resources to promote a green economy and create new job opportunities. Deputy Minister Chen also mentioned that the Sixth Energy Smart Communities Initiative (ESCI) Best Practices Awards Program included “just transition” as an evaluation criterion for the first time this year and recognized cases from member economies like Taiwan, U.S., and Canada, which all incorporated methods of promoting just energy transition. Taiwan’s project received the Gold Medal in the Smart Jobs & Consumers category, and was also highlighted by Ariadne BenAissa, Lead Shepherd of the APEC Energy Working Group (EWG), as a great example in enhancing just energy transition.

Regarding “importance of energy access in promoting sustainable growth,” member economies acknowledged the importance of striking a balance between ensuring energy access and ending energy poverty in the process of promoting clean energy transition. Deputy Minister Chen shared Taiwan’s FiT scheme that encourages renewable energy installation in indigenous and remote areas, while also expressing Taiwan’s willingness to exchange and cooperate with all member economies on energy access policies, technologies, and measures.

When discussing “policies and actions for hydrogen development in APEC economies to promote sustainable growth,” Deputy Minister Chen shared that the manufacturing sector is the focus of Taiwan’s economic development, and using hydrogen in the manufacturing process will help to realize net-zero emissions. He also expressed that international trade is the most optimal path to facilitate the development and application of hydrogen energy, and establishing basic regulations for international hydrogen energy trade is a goal all member economies should strive towards in the future. Deputy Minister Chen also voiced his support for the “APEC Policy Guidance to Develop and Implement Clean and Low-Carbon Hydrogen Policy Frameworks in the Asia-Pacific” proposed by host country Peru, hoping that hydrogen energy trade can be realized as early as possible with advancement in related technology and business model.

Ministry of Economic Affairs noted, during this year’s APEC EMM14, all member economies exchanged and shared concrete methods for energy sustainable development, making this a meaningful multilateral forum where Taiwan was able to demonstrate our dedicated spirit and achievements in promoting net-zero transition.

Spokesperson for Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs Deputy Director General, Chun-Li Lee
Phone Number: 02-2775-7700, 0936-250-838
Email: chunlee@moeaea.gov.tw

Business Contact: Director, Fang-Ling Liao
Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Phone Number: 02-2775-7710, 0912-089-923
Email: flliao@moeaea.gov.tw

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Chief Executive John Lee, on a visit to Hainan, today met Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee Feng Fei and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hainan Provincial People’s Government.

Meeting this morning, Mr Lee and Mr Feng discuss ways of enhancing co-operation between the two places.

Highlighting the close economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Hainan, Mr Lee said Hong Kong has long been the major source of external investment in Hainan, with many Hong Kong enterprises conducting business in the province. In 2024, more than 700 Hong Kong enterprises were operating in Hainan, and the realised direct investment from Hong Kong was RMB15 billion.

Me Lee said that thanks to customs closure operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the implementation of preferential policies, Hong Kong enterprises and professionals will have more development opportunities in Hainan.

After the meeting, Mr Lee and Mr Feng attended a signing ceremony for the Hainan-Hong Kong Memorandum of Cooperation.

Signed by Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing and Hainan Vice Governor Bater, the memorandum aims to deepen co-operation in five areas – trade and investment, finance, safe flows of data, tourism, and talent exchanges.

Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong SAR Government is fully leveraging the city’s unique advantages under “one country, two systems” of having strong support from the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world.

Hong Kong, he added, is committed to contributing to the introduction of international projects to Hainan and facilitating Hainan’s capital investments in overseas markets, with a view to jointly venturing into the global market with Hainan.

He stressed that the Hong Kong SAR Government will promote collaborative development and mutual benefits between the Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port, thereby contributing to the country’s high-quality development and high-level opening up.

In the afternoon, the Chief Executive met young people from Hong Kong who are working or starting businesses in Hainan to learn about their experiences. He encouraged them to study the memorandum of co-operation signed today and seize on the opportunities it presents to realise their aspirations.

He also urged them to contribute to fostering mutual engagement and integrated development between citizens of the two places.

In the evening, Mr Lee attended a dinner hosted by the organiser of the Boao Forum for Asia.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Textile Research Institute (TTRI) developed the Mushroom Leather Cultivation System, which received the 2024 R&D 100 Award for its innovation. This system utilizes a non-woven soy protein growing bed, allowing mushroom leather to grow both on the surface and within the bed, unlike traditional cotton beds that limit growth to the surface. This advancement promotes efficient rolled growth.

A key feature is the circulating conveyor belt that ensures a consistent nutrient supply through precise air spraying, preventing nutritional gaps found in other soaking methods.

TTRI’s roll-to-roll growth system can produce up to 5-6 square meters of mushroom leather, significantly more than the 0.05-0.25 square meters yielded by plate-based methods. It also enhances nutrient-to-mycelium conversion efficiency to 25%, compared to the typical 10-20% in the market. This efficient, space-saving system boosts productivity and sustainability, positioning TTRI’s Mushroom Leather as a leading eco-friendly alternative in the leather industry.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The AI Self-Learning Fabric Inspecting System developed by the Textile Research Institute (TTRI) is a transformative innovation in fabric inspection. This system employs advanced optical design and comprehensive inspection methods, detecting 99% of fabric defects and accurately marking defect locations on screens and fabrics for precise quality control during production.

Defect data is systematically stored in an AI database, enabling continuous learning and improvement of the inspection process. The AI refines defect detection using collected data, enhancing overall system performance while reducing human error and increasing inspection efficiency.

TTRI also provides suppliers with detailed reports on defect causes, helping them identify specific problem areas across different fabric sectors. This insight empowers suppliers to improve fabric quality and boost shipment success rates, ultimately leading to more reliable and efficient textile production.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The Textile Research Institute’s (TTRI) Bionic Mono-Material Leather, awarded the 2024 R&D 100 Award, features advanced SEBS Leather technology. This innovative material, made entirely from polyolefin polymer (SEBS), converts thermoplastic materials into a textile form using non-woven fabric shaping and fiber control techniques. The production process is streamlined from eight steps to four while maintaining excellent breathability and elasticity.

This technology addresses recycling challenges associated with synthetic leather by utilizing a single material. SEBS Leather is 100% recyclable and can be reprocessed at least five times without losing performance, presenting a sustainable option for the industry.

In comparison to traditional leather materials, SEBS Leather reduces carbon emissions by 18% (3.7 kg for SEBS versus 4.4 kg for standard PU). Producing 100 tons of SEBS Leather saves 1,044.6 kilowatt-hours of electricity, cuts carbon emissions by 517.14 kg, and decreases sodium hydroxide solvent use by 20 to 30 tons, making it both eco-friendly and highly marketable.