Indian Navy’s Mission Deployed stealth frigate INS Trikand, operating in the Central Arabian Sea, provided urgent critical medical assistance to a Pakistani crew of a Fishing Vessel operating approximately 350 nautical miles east of the Oman coast. The crew had suffered severe injuries involving multiple fractures and blood loss.
INS Trikand on morning of 04 Apr 25, intercepted a distress call from an Iranian dhow Al Omeedi. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that a crew member of the dhow had sustained severe injuries to his fingers while working on the engine and was in critical condition and that he had been transferred to another dhow named FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia, which was en route to Iran.
Trikand immediately altered her course to provide medical assistance to the injured crew member. The crew of FV Abdul Rehman Hanzia consisted 11 Pakistani (09 Baloch and 02 Sindhi) and 05 Iranian personnel. The injured individual, a Pakistani (Baloch) national, had suffered multiple fractures and severe hand injuries, resulting in heavy blood loss.
The Medical Officer of INS Trikand, along with a team comprising MARCOS (Marine Commandos) and the Ship’s Boarding Team, boarded the FV to administer aid. After providing local anesthesia, the Ship’s Medical Team performed suturing and splinting on the injured fingers. The surgical procedure which lasted for over three hours, was successfully completed, and bleeding was controlled in time, thereby preventing potential permanent loss of the injured fingers due to gangrene.
Additionally, medical supplies, including antibiotics, were provided to the FV to ensure the crew’s well-being until they reached Iran. The entire crew expressed their deep gratitude to the Indian Navy for the timely assistance in saving their crewmate’s life.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
New York ETO showcases Hong Kong cinematic talents in Chicago The Office also strengthened the cultural, business and educational ties between Hong Kong and Chicago, Illinois, during a duty visit to the city from April 3 to 5.
At the United States premiere of “The Last Dance” on April 4, Hong Kong actress Michelle Wai was honoured with the Extraordinary Actors Award for her outstanding performance. Director Anselm Chan joined her at the post-screening sharing session.
This year’s APUC also welcomed four Hong Kong filmmakers, who presented their works and engaged with the audience. They included directors Ho Miu-ki (“Love Lies”) and Albert Mak (“Hit N Fun”), as well as producers Chan Hing-ka (“Love Lies”) and Paul Chan (“To Be Continued”).
Addressing the award ceremony, the Director of the New York ETO, Ms Maisie Ho, praised the filmmakers, noting that they represent the diverse and exceptional talents within Hong Kong’s creative industry.
“Through our Film Development Fund, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government continues to support and nurture the growth of Hong Kong’s creative industry, ensuring its presence on the global stage. By fostering talent, enhancing local production, and expanding audiences, we remain committed to bringing the best of Hong Kong cinema to the world,” she said.
On April 3, the New York ETO cohosted a spring reception with the Hong Kong Business Association of the Midwest and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council . The annual event, attended by over 100 guests from Chicago’s business, legal, academic, and cultural sectors, highlighted the strong ties between Hong Kong and Chicago. Ms Ho also had a meeting with Vice President for International Relations at Northwestern University Devora Grynspan to discuss areas of mutual interest and introduce Hong Kong’s talent admission schemes available to university graduates. Northwestern University is among the list of eligible institutions under the Top Talent Pass Scheme. Issued at HKT 16:00
Ministry of Women and Child Development to celebrate 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada from 8th to 22nd April ,2025 Poshan Pakhwada 2025 to emphasize on four key themes
Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi to visit Arunachal Pradesh during first week of Poshan Pakhwada to assess ongoing initiatives
Smt. Savitri Thakur ,MoS for WCD to address officers of 18 partner Ministries, State WCD Departments, and Anganwadi workers of all States/UTs through Webcast address on inaugural day of Poshan Pakhwada
Posted On: 07 APR 2025 3:18PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is set to celebrate the 7thedition of Poshan Pakhwada from 8thApril to 22ndApril 2025, as part of the Government of India’s ongoing commitment to address malnutrition. This year’s Poshan Pakhwada will emphasize four key themes: Focus on the First 1000 Days of Life, Popularization of the Beneficiary/Citizen Module of Poshan Tracker, Management of Malnutrition through CMAM, and Healthy Lifestyle to Address Obesity in Children.
Poshan Abhiyaan, a flagship initiative launched by the Prime Minister, continues its mission to combat malnutrition, improving nutritional outcomes for pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under the age of 06. This year’s Poshan Pakhwada will be instrumental in strengthening content, delivery, outreach, and outcomes. As part of the broader Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the initiative focuses on fostering health, wellness, and immunity against diseases and malnutrition.
On the inaugural day of Poshan Pakhwada Minister of State for WCD, Smt. Savitri Thakur will be addressing officers of 18 partner Ministries, officers of State WCD Department, and Anganwadi workers of all States/UTs through a webcast. Webcast link:https://webcast.gov.in/mwcd(at 12 Noon, 8th April 2025)
The Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi will visit Arunachal Pradesh in the first week of the Pakhwada to assess the ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening support for women and children in the state. This visit is in line with the government’s continuous efforts to improve welfare services and promote the safety and well-being of vulnerable groups.
This Poshan Pakhwada will be outcome oriented. It will aim to bring together various stakeholders to improve nutrition outcomes at the grassroots through home visits, community outreach programs, identification drives and camps at the village, block, and district levels. The focus will be on educating the community about holistic nutrition, promoting exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, and popularising the beneficiary/citizen module of the Poshan Tracker as a tool for community empowerment and involvement.
Since the inception of Poshan Abhiyaan, six successful Poshan Pakhwada events have already been held across the country. The Jan Andolan Activities conducted during Poshan Pakhwada are not limited to this Ministry but also have a strong convergence element where partner Ministries viz; Ministry of Rural development, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Education, etc also conduct various events/drives during this period. The various activities/events planned by the States/UTs across the country under Poshan Pakhwada 2025 will also strongly reflect the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
Through extensive community engagement, the Poshan Pakhwada 2025 will continue its mission to raise awareness on the importance of nutrition at every level—individual, community, and national—and work towards fostering a Suposhit Bharat in alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s interaction with 1996 Sri Lankan Cricket Team India is committed to the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy: PM
India is the first responder to crises in neighboring countries: PM
Posted On: 06 APR 2025 8:19PM by PIB Delhi
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacted with the 1996 Sri Lankan Cricket Team in Colombo, Sri Lanka yesterday. During the candid interaction, the cricketers expressed happiness and gratitude to meet the honorable Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also expressed his happiness to meet them and remarked that the Indian people still remember the team’s impactful performance, particularly the memorable victory that left a lasting impression. He added that their achievement continues to resonate with the nation.
Shri Modi recalled attending a match in Ahmedabad in 2010, where he observed one of the Sri Lankan cricketer officiating as an umpire. He highlighted the transformative impact of India’s 1983 World Cup victory and the 1996 World Cup win by the Sri Lankan team, emphasizing how these milestones reshaped the cricketing world. The Prime Minister remarked that the evolution of T20 cricket can be traced back to the innovative playing style demonstrated by the then Sri Lankan Cricket team in the 1996 matches. He expressed interest in hearing from others about their current endeavors and inquired if they are still involved in cricket and coaching roles.
Recounting India’s decision to participate in Sri Lanka despite the 1996 bomb blasts that led other teams to withdraw, Shri Modi highlighted the appreciation shown by Sri Lankan players for India’s solidarity during their difficult times. He remarked on the enduring sportsmanship displayed by India, emphasizing how it triumphed over adversity, including the 1996 bomb blasts that shook Sri Lanka. He noted his own visit to Sri Lanka following the 2019 church bomb blasts, making him the first global leader to do so. He added that the Indian Cricket team also toured soon after in 2019. The Prime Minister underscored India’s unwavering spirit and commitment to standing by Sri Lanka in both joy and sorrow, reflecting the nation’s enduring values.
Shri Sanath Jayasuriya, who is currently the coach of Sri Lankan Men’s cricket team, thanked the Prime Minister for India’s unwavering support to Sri Lanka during their recent financial crisis. He further requested the Prime Minister if India could explore the feasibility to help establish a cricket ground to host international cricket matches in Jaffna, Sri Lanka which would help the aspiring cricketers and people of the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the remarks made by Shri Jayasuriya and emphasized, “India is committed to the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy”. He highlighted India’s swift response to crises in neighboring countries, citing the recent earthquake in Myanmar where India acted as the first responder. He remarked on India’s sense of responsibility as a nation to prioritize the well-being of its neighboring and friendly countries. Shri Modi also underlined India’s consistent support for Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, stating that India views it as a responsibility to assist Sri Lanka in overcoming challenges. He mentioned the announcement of several new projects and appreciated Shri Jayasuriya’s concern for Jaffna, emphasizing the importance of hosting international cricket matches there. He assured that his team would take note of this suggestion and explore its feasibility.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect with everyone, relive old memories, and see familiar faces. He concluded by reaffirming India’s enduring relationship with Sri Lanka and pledged his full support for any initiatives undertaken by the Sri Lankan cricket community.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hongkong Post to issue “Hong Kong Museums Collection – Fuyun Xuan Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles” special stamps The Fuyun Xuan Collection is a private collection of Chinese snuff bottles established by the late local collector Mr Christopher Sin. His wife, Mrs Josephine Sin, has donated 490 sets of Chinese snuff bottles to the Hong Kong Museum of Art as a permanent collection, making these cultural gems accessible to a wider public. The small and delicate snuff bottles cover a wide range of craftsmanship, serving as miniature embodiments of Chinese art and craft history.
Hongkong Post is continuing its Hong Kong Museums Collection series by issuing a set of six stamps, two stamp sheetlets and associated philatelic products on the theme of “Hong Kong Museums Collection – Fuyun Xuan Collection of Chinese Snuff Bottles” to present selected Chinese snuff bottles from the Fuyun Xuan Collection donated by Christopher and Josephine Sin. The selection encompasses various designs and materials that include glass, rock crystal, lacquer, and ceramics, showcasing the exquisite craftsmanship and creativity of Chinese artisans in these small and delicate snuff bottles.
Resham Talwar had always believed in the power of voice. As a visually challenged artist, she knew that her voice carried more than just words, it carried emotion, expression, and the ability to bring characters to life. She didn’t let her disability define her. Instead, she carved a space for herself in the highly competitive world of voice acting. Winning the Voice Acting category at WAVES Anime & Manga Contest (WAM!) in Delhi elevated her journey, proving her artistry could break through any barrier. Resham’s expertise in radio jockeying, voice-overs, and audio editing had already proven her capabilities, but WAM!! put her on a bigger stage. Her talent resonated with industry leaders, opening doors that had remained closed for far too long. It’s stories like hers that highlight why WAM!! isn’t just a competition, it’s a movement that’s shaking up the creative industry.
This dynamic initiative, organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in collaboration with the Media & Entertainment Association of India (MEAI), aims to harness India’s growing enthusiasm for anime and manga by providing a platform for creators to showcase their talent. WAM!! encourages artists to develop localised adaptations of popular Japanese styles, catering to both Indian and global audiences, with opportunities for publishing, distribution, and industry exposure that foster artistic expression and nurture emerging talent. The competition will feature state-level contests across 11 cities, culminating in a grand national finale at World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai.
WAM! is a cornerstone of the broader WAVES 2025, an ambitious event set to unfold at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai from 1st to 4th May. WAVES aims to position India as a global powerhouse in media and entertainment, drawing inspiration from iconic gatherings like Davos and Cannes. It’s a first-of-its-kind summit, uniting films, OTT platforms, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, and the burgeoning AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality) sector under one roof. With India’s media and entertainment industry poised for massive growth, targeting a $50 billion market by 2029, WAVES is set to be the catalyst that propels the nation to the forefront of global storytelling.
At the heart of WAVES lies the Create in India Challenges (CIC), a series of competitions designed to unearth and nurture talent across diverse creative fields. Season 1 of CIC has already sparked a frenzy, attracting over 77,000 entries, including more than 500 participants from 35 countries. From this vast pool, over 725 top creators will converge at the grand finale during WAVES 2025, showcasing their work and vying for global recognition. The challenges celebrate India’s rich tapestry of regional storytelling, reflecting the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity. WAM!!, as one of the standout initiatives under CIC, zeroes in on the anime and manga domains, offering a stage for both amateurs and professionals to shine. It’s a movement that not only discovers hidden gems but also bridges the gap between raw talent and industry opportunity, transforming dreams into tangible careers.
To appreciate why WAM!! matters, it’s helpful to explore what manga and anime are, especially for people in India. Manga is simply a type of comic book or graphic novel that started in Japan. It’s like the comics you might read, but it covers all sorts of stories, think exciting adventures, sweet love tales, spooky horrors, or magical fantasies. What makes manga special is its look: the characters often have big, lively eyes and the drawings can be super simple or packed with detail, depending on the story. Unlike most books, you read manga from right to left, and it usually starts as short pieces in magazines before being put together into books called “tankōbon.” Anime, on the other hand, is like manga brought to life—it’s the cartoon version you watch on a screen, with movement and voices added to the same kinds of stories. There’s something for everyone: ‘shonen’ is for young boys and full of action and friendship, ‘shojo’ is for young girls and focuses on romance, ‘seinen’ is for grown-up men with deeper or darker ideas, and ‘josei’ is for adult women with everyday life or love stories that feel real.
In India, manga and anime have become incredibly popular over the last ten years, thanks to how easy they are to find and the excited fans who love them. There are around 180 million anime fans in the country, making India the second-biggest anime market in the world, just behind China. These fans are expected to play a huge part in making anime even more popular globally, driving 60% of its growth. Shows like “Naruto,” “Dragon Ball,” “One Piece,” “Attack on Titan,” and “My Hero Academia” have become huge hits, winning over massive followings across India and showing just how much people here love these stories.
The anime market in India was worth $1,642.5 million in 2023, and it’s set to grow to $5,036.0 million by 2032. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Crunchyroll, and Disney+ Hotstar have made it simple for people to watch anime, adding subtitles so Indian viewers can enjoy them. Manga is also getting easier to find, with e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart selling these comic books, and some special shops popping up too. Yet, despite this boom, India faces a critical shortage of skilled talent in the anime and manga industry, a gap that WAM is determined to bridge by fostering homegrown creators.
Resham’s win is just one of many amazing stories coming out of WAM!. Take Angel Yadav, a high school student from Sunbeam Varuna in Varanasi, who stunned judges in the Manga (Student Category) at WAM Varanasi. Her artwork impressed Vaibhavi Studio in Kolkata so much that they offered her a job, showing that even young people can make a big impact in this field. Another success is Randeep Singh, a professional manga artist who entered WAM! Bhubaneswar. The judges loved his work, calling it good enough to be printed, and while he keeps working on his own manga, he’s already getting paid projects from Vaibhavi Studio. These examples show how WAM! changes lives, helping people turn their love for creating into real careers, with big names in the industry supporting them along the way.
The support for WAM! extends far beyond individual triumphs, drawing in some of the biggest names in the business. Srikkanth Konatham, Director of BOB Pictures, has pledged to attend every future WAM! event, eager to scout talent ready to hit the ground running. Navin Miranda of ToonSutra is offering distribution deals in the webtoon space to winners, while Rajeswari Roy from eTV Bal Bharat is providing pitching opportunities in anime. Nilesh Patel, founder of central India’s largest animation studio, has gone further, promising placements for winners and internships for finalists. This industry backing isn’t just lip service, it’s a lifeline, ensuring that WAM! participants don’t just compete but thrive in a competitive global market.
What sets WAM! apart is its ability to democratise creativity. It’s a platform where a visually challenged voice actor like Resham can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a teenage manga artist like Angel or a seasoned professional like Randeep. As part of WAVES 2025, WAM! is more than a contest, it’s a revolution, reshaping how India’s creative talents are discovered, nurtured, and celebrated. With the summit on the horizon, the world will watch as India’s storytellers, rooted in a legacy of folklore and now embracing modern mediums like anime and manga, take centre stage. For Resham and countless others, WAM! isn’t just a win, it’s the beginning of a legacy, one that promises to burn brighter with every passing year.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) launched a revamped Microdata Portal during the recently held Conference of State Government Ministers, marking a significant step in enhancing data accessibility, user experience, and the integration of advanced technologies in the Official Statistical System. The new portal, which serves as a centralized repository for extensive statistical data collected from national surveys and economic census overcomes technological limitations faced by the previous portal. In collaboration with the World Bank Technology Team, MOSPI has adopted a modern, scalable technology stack that not only ensures compliance with the latest security standards but also supports a responsive design and data access mechanism. The portal can be accessed at https://microdata.gov.in/.
On this occasion the web site of National Statistical System Training Academy was also launched. It will facilitate ease of access of information regarding capacity building initiative of the ministry by making them available at one place. The website can be accessed at www.nssta.gov.in.The portal & the website have been developed in-house by Data Informatics & Innovation Division of the ministry.
MoSPI also presented a Proof of Concept (PoC) for an AI/ML-based classification tool designed to ease the use of the National Industrial Classification (NIC) in production of official statistics. The tool leverages natural language processing to allow stakeholders to enter text queries, subsequently suggesting the top five relevant NIC codes. This innovation not only reduces manual effort but also increases the productivity of enumerators, leading to more accurate data collection and ultimately better planning and policy-making. This has been the outcome of the recently concluded Hackathon organized by the ministry.
The launch of these portals and website along with innovative AI-driven tools underscores commitment of the ministry to leverage the latest technological advancements for data management leading to strengthening of the statistical system. These initiatives are set to foster a more data-driven approach to policymaking, ensuring that government interventions are both precise and context-specific, ultimately contributing to goal of Viksit Bharat.
The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) organizes National Seminars at regular intervals following the release of survey reports based on data collected in the National Sample Surveys. The seminar serves as an academic platform where experts, researchers, academia, and government officials from various institutions present and discuss research papers based on the survey findings. So far, seventeen (17) National Seminars have been organized in reputed institutes and universities across the country.
Continuing this tradition, the 18th National Seminar on survey results of NSS 78th Round: Multiple indicator Survey, 79th Round: Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) and Survey on Ayush, Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES), and Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is being organized by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India at Goa University, Panaji, Goa, on the 8th and 9th of April 2025.
The seminar will be inaugurated by Director General (NSS) and the Vice-Chancellor of Goa University will grace the occasion. Distinguished members of various expert Committees under whose guidance the survey instruments were finalised will also honour the event with their presence and participation in the discussions.
The event will host 225 participants, including researchers, academicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The event will also be attended by the experts from international organizations,experts from private survey agencies and professors/scholars from renowned institutions.
For the 18th National Seminar around 40 research papers were received from Assistant Professors, Research scholars & students of various universities/colleges of across India, in-service and retired officers of Indian Statistical Service, other Government officers of different State /Central Govt. departments, researchers, data users etc.. Following a thorough evaluation by the Paper Selection Committee, 14 papers have been shortlisted for presentation. The seminar will comprise five technical sessions, during which these selected papers will be presented. The presentations will be based on survey findings related to the aforementioned key thematic areas of the seminar.
The seminar will present research papers which broadly cover emerging topics of current importance, including ICT skills inequality, financial inclusion, the impact of health insurance, digital competency among youth, and insights into the platform economy, particularly app-based cab services and delivery services, all based on NSS survey data. Topics related to consumption patterns across household types, and AYUSH utilization, productivity in informal economies related to the unincorporated sector and industries will also be covered.
The papers titled “Predicting an NSS Indicator Value: A Machine Learning Approach” , “A neural network approach to identify features associated with multidimensional poverty in rural India”, utilise advanced computational techniques to analyze large datasets, uncover patterns, and make predictions or classifications across various fields.
Apart from the research papers, a session on presentations by the Stakeholder Ministries/Private survey agencies on utility of National Sample Survey data is also included in the proceedings of the seminar. The seminar aims to facilitate informed discussions, policy recommendations, and data-driven insights on these critical topics, contributing to evidence-based policymaking and governance.
Participants are encouraged to join this significant event through open registration. The registration link is provided below:
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live on YouTube. Watch it on the official MoSPI YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@GoIStats.
For more information about National Sample Surveys and Reports, please visit the MoSPI website at www.mospi.gov.in.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has reaffirmed commitment to build a healthier world on World Health Day. Shri Modi said that government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society.
The Prime Minister wrote on X;
“On World Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier world. Our Government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society!”
On World Health Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier world. Our Government will keep focusing on healthcare and invest in different aspects of people’s well-being. Good health is the foundation of every thriving society! pic.twitter.com/2XEpVmPza9
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Board of Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) endorsed on March 31, 2025, the appointment of Mrs Vivian Cheung Kar-fay as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the AA for three years with effect from today (April 7). The appointment has been approved by the Chief Executive.
The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, extends a warm welcome to Mrs Cheung as she takes up the position of CEO of the AA. She said, “I trust that under Mrs Cheung’s leadership, the AA will continue to strengthen the leading position of Hong Kong International Airport as an international aviation hub and promote the long-term development of the airport, including leveraging the immerse opportunities brought by the Three-Runway System, transforming the airport into a world-leading Airport City, integrating with the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area through enhanced intermodal connectivity, and promoting continuous innovation for excellence in aviation. The Government will continue to work closely with the AA to take our aviation industry to new heights.”
​Under the Airport Authority Ordinance, the appointment of the CEO of the AA requires the Chief Executive’s approval.