MIL Asia Pacific Publishing Engine

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 29 APR 2025 2:20PM by PIB Delhi

Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs  chaired an internal review meeting on PMJVK projects to assess progress of the scheme and address challenges. The meeting focused on ensuring wider outreach and effective implementation of PMJVK across India. The Secretary directed the officials to enhance and improve the scheme further.

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SS/ISA

(Release ID: 2125118) Visitor Counter : 104

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 29 APR 2025 2:18PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju extended his heartfelt wishes to all 1,22,518 pilgrims undertaking the sacred Haj  journey . The first flights took off with  288 pilgrims from Lucknow and 262 pilgrims from Hyderabad. In his X post, the Union Minister tweeted that under the leadership of Prime Minister , Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India remains committed to ensuring a smooth and seamless Haj pilgrimage. He also prayed for a safe, blessed and spiritually enriching pilgrimage.

 

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SS/ISA

(Release ID: 2125117) Visitor Counter : 116

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 29 APR 2025 2:16PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today extended his congratulations to Mr. Mark Carney on his election as the Prime Minister of Canada and to the Liberal Party on their victory. He highlighted the shared democratic values, unwavering commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties that bind India and Canada together. 

In a post on X, he wrote:

“Congratulations @MarkJCarney on your election as the Prime Minister of Canada and to the Liberal Party on their victory. India and Canada are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnership and unlock greater opportunities for our people.”

 

 

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MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2125115) Visitor Counter : 40

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal and Chief Minister of Rajasthan Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma reviewed Centrally Funded urban development schemes in Jaipur today

Proper assessment of expenditure and cost should be done in Metro Phase-2 project to provide better facilities can also be provided to the general public : Shri Bhajan Lal

Posted On: 29 APR 2025 1:55PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, GoI, Sh. Manohar Lal and Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Sh. Bhajan Lal Sharma held a review meeting of all the Centrally Funded Projects in Rajasthan related to urban development, at the Chief Minister’s residence in Jaipur today.

He reviewed the development, expansion and financial model of important projects related to the development of Rajasthan, funded by the Centre, such as Swachh Bharat Mission, PM e-Bus Service, Jaipur Metro Rail, Amrit Mission 2.0, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

Sh. Sharma said that proper assessment of expenditure and cost should be done in Metro Phase-2 project and other important projects so that along with the proper utilization of financial resources,  better facilities can also be provided to the general public.

He also said that Rajasthan is a historic and rapidly growing state where important works are being done for urban development with the support of the Centre. He gave guidelines for planning and their proper implementation keeping in mind the future needs and facilities of the common man.

Senior officials of the Government of India and Rajasthan Government were also present on this occasion. The officers gave a detailed presentation to the Hon’ble Union Minister and Hon’ble Chief Minister regarding all the important Urban Development Projects.

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SK

(Release ID: 2125110) Visitor Counter : 65

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following information today (April 29) on the traffic and public transport arrangements for the upcoming Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland.

     During the Labour Day and the Birthday of the Buddha holidays, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, vehicles and Mainland visitors travelling to and from the Mainland or Macao via various land-based BCPs, particularly on May 1, 3 and 5, the Transport Department (TD) urged the public and visitors to plan their trips in advance and allow sufficient travelling time.

     The TD has co-ordinated with local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the holidays, including increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to less than one minute during peak hours, and the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to about two minutes at its highest frequency, as well as increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services. The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends or Sundays while franchised bus operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet the travel needs of passengers. The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau at different times from May 1 to May 5 to provide convenience for the travelling public and visitors. It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus, may be longer. Passengers should make their journeys during non-peak hours, observe order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers of cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

     Of note, motorists are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port from May 1 to 5 to allow smooth access of public transport vehicles to the above control points. Cross-boundary private cars may need to queue up for crossing the BCPs. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site police.

     For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD’s HKeMobility mobile application (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through WeChat official accounts “hzmbzhport” or “zhuhaifabu” (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only), and check the forecasts of peak hours of inbound and outbound vehicles at the HZMB Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official account of the HZMB integrated information dissemination platform (mp.weixin.qq.com/s/PXLza25svheLQZuTXSbwFQ) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles shall not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.

     The TD’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of different districts including various BCPs and major stations. The TD will disseminate the latest traffic information through various channels. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, and the HKeMobility application.

     The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Labour Day Golden Week of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.

Source: Government of India

India and Egypt deliberate to strengthen ties through avenues of strategic collaboration in skill development

Both delegations expressed a shared commitment to creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce

Posted On: 29 APR 2025 1:15PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, hosted a high-level Egyptian delegation led by H.E. Prof. Dr. Ayman Bahaa El Din, Deputy Minister of Technical Education, for a pivotal round of deliberations at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi on 28^th April, 2025. This engagement marks another milestone in the ever-strengthening India-Egypt relationship, building on the momentum of the 2023 elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership and the recent recognition of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi with Egypt’s highest civilian honour.

Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, highlighted the enduring people-to-people and institutional linkages between the two nations. He emphasized India’s vision to become the “Skill Capital of the World” through the Skill India Mission, under which already close to 400,000 individuals have already been trained in advanced domains such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data, while nurturing over 1.3 million entrepreneurs.

India’s efforts to align its vocational education and training (TVET) ecosystem with global standards, and the establishment of world-class Skill India International Centres, were presented as models for international collaboration.

The Egyptian delegation shared insights into Egypt’s comprehensive TVET reforms, including the EU-supported TVET Egypt Reform Programme and the establishment of Sector Skill Councils, which resonate with India’s scalable and affordable skilling models. Both sides acknowledged the success of ongoing collaborations, such as the 2024 MoU between India’s NIELIT and Egypt’s Information Technology Institute, the El-Sewedy Group’s partnership with Amity University, and the Indian-supported Vocational Training Centre in Cairo.

Looking ahead, the two countries identified several promising avenues for future cooperation. These include joint certification programmes, faculty and student exchanges, digital skilling and entrepreneurship initiatives, and the establishment of Centres of Excellence in priority sectors like information technology, agriculture, tourism, and green skills. Both delegations expressed a shared commitment to creating a globally competitive, future-ready workforce and to using their partnership as a template for broader South-South cooperation.

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Beena Yadav/Shahbaz Hasibi

(Release ID: 2125101) Visitor Counter : 49

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said today (April 29) that emergency repairs to its telephone system, which broke down this morning, have been completed. Some of the DH’s telephone enquiry services were temporarily suspended due to the incident, but all services have resumed as normal.

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

The 2025 Taiwan International Geothermal Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, is taking place from April 24-25 in Taipei. Now in its third edition, the conference brings together leading geothermal experts, government representatives, and industry leaders from the United States, New Zealand, Canada, the Philippines, and other countries to explore cutting-edge technologies and the future development of geothermal energy. Held in a hybrid format with both in-person sessions and online streaming, the conference has attracted more than 700 participants from around the world, including representatives from academia, industry, government, and research institutions. The event aims to advance Taiwan’s geothermal industry and enhance its global competitiveness in the green energy sector.

Government Drives Geothermal Development and Industry Collaboration Shapes a Sustainable Future
In his opening remarks, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lai Chien-Hsin emphasized that amid the global climate change, the government is committed to implementing a range of carbon reduction measures to ensure sustainable energy transition. Promoting renewable energy, he noted, is critical to achieving these goals.

Vice Minister Lai highlighted geothermal energy’s pivot role in Taiwan’s energy transition. With Taiwan’s favorable geological conditions, it has completed the construction of six geothermal power plants. This year, more geothermal power plants will be connected to the grid. He sincerely welcomes all geothermal scholars, developers and experts to participate in 2025 Taiwan International Geothermal Conference, believing that through collaboration between international enterprises and local Taiwanese companies, they can contribute to achieving net-zero emission goals and jointly address the challenges of extreme climate.

International Experts Convene to Foster Technology Exchange and Industry Collaboration
The conference features a broad range of topics, including the status of geothermal energy development in Taiwan, international industry trends, advanced technologies and innovative applications, and the role of local governments in promoting geothermal power development. The Energy Administration and the Geological Survey and Mining Management Agency presented Taiwan’s geothermal policies and exploration progress. Meanwhile, the CPC Corporation and Taiwan Power Company delivered special reports on development strategies and recent technical breakthroughs, which have attracted investment interest from domestic and international companies.

Afternoon sessions focused on cutting-edge project management and international drilling experiences, exploring how to leverage advanced technology and optimized practices to support local developers, accelerate geothermal plant construction, and enhance industry competitiveness.

High-Level Dialogue on the Future of Geothermal Energy and Strengthening International Partnerships
The first day of the conference concluded with a high-level dialogue moderated by the Acting Director-General of the Energy Administration Lee Chun-Li joined by representatives from the global geothermal industry, research institutes, and government sectors. The discussion centered on “The Future Outlook for Geothermal Power in Taiwan,” highlighting strategies to attract international investment, expand the geothermal industry value chain, and strengthen Taiwan’s presence in the global green energy market.

Workshops and Site Visits Promote Practical Engagement
On April 25, the second day of the conference, three professional workshops will be held on “Geothermal Drilling Technology,” “Development Solutions,” and “Exploration and Equipment Applications.” The conference will also feature a technical site visit for international guests to CPC Corporation’s Yuanshan No.1 Well, Taiwan’s first deep geothermal exploratory well. Jointly developed by Academia Sinica and CPC and currently drilled to a depth of 1,820 meters, this well marks a key milestone for Taiwan’s deep geothermal progress, offering international stakeholders a firsthand look at Taiwan’s geothermal potential and supportive development environment.

Through this international platform, Taiwan aims to strengthen global partnerships, foster innovation, accelerate the growth of its geothermal sector, and advance toward the long-term goal of sustainable energy.

Spokesperson:
Mr. Chih-wei Wu, Deputy Director General, Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Tel: +886-2-2775-7750 / +886-922-339-410
Email: cwwu@moeaea.gov.tw

Contact Person:
Ms. Hsiu-fen Tsai, Director, Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Tel: +886-2-2775-7730
Email: hftsai@moeaea.gov.tw