Latest news with #POSK
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- The Hindu
Over 1.2 lakh e-passports issued since March, says Chennai Regional Passport Officer
The Regional Passport Officer (RPO), Chennai, S. VijayaKumar on Thursday said over 1.20 lakh e-passports had been issued so far since it was launched last March in the city. Addressing mediapersons on Thursday, Mr. Vijayakumar said: 'E-passport is a chip-based passport and was rolled out across India recently. Chennai is the first city in south India where e-passport was rolled out in March. Till June 30, 1.20 lakh e-passports have been issued. The basic purpose of issuing e-passports is to reduce forgery and enhance security measures. It was initiated as a policy measure by the Ministry of External Affairs.' The e-passport is a combined paper and electronic passport, with an embedded radio frequency identification (RFID) chip and antenna embedded as an inlay. The main benefit of the e-passport is its enhanced ability to maintain the integrity of its data. Since the e-passport has the data in printed form on the booklet, as well as encrypted in the chip, it makes it harder to forge. The RPO said e-passport would facilitate the ease of travel for Indian citizens by enabling automated identity verification processes and making their interfacing with immigration authorities easier. M-Passport initiative Mr. Vijayakumar said the Passport Seva Mobile Van (also called M-Passport) would be rolled out in Krishnagiri district on July 7 and it would cater to the needs of those living in rural areas and were unable to travel long distances to apply for passports. The mobile passport seva van will be boon in order to provide last-mile connectivity, especially to prospective applicants, he said the RPO, adding that the mobile service would be extended to other districts within the RPO Chennai jurisdiction. People can get appointments using the Passport seva website. He said there were 13 Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POSK) within RPO, Chennai, and the process is on to open another in Perambur soon. 'We have a policy to set up POSK in each and every Parliamentary constituency,' said Mr. Vijayakumar.
The Independent
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
King pledges to lend his watercolours to Polish cultural centre in London
The King has said he will loan a leading Polish cultural centre some of his watercolours after a plea from its gallery to exhibit his work. Charles was reminded of a request made 15 years ago during his last visit to the Polish Social and Cultural Association (POSK) in west London to display his art. The monarch joined heads of state and government in Poland last week for commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and he visited the cultural centre in Hammersmith on Wednesday to show his support for the UK's Polish community. He met a cross-section of Poles and people of Polish descent living and working in the UK, including 101-year old Eugeniusz Niedzielski, a Second World War Normandy veteran who was thanked by the King for his service. When Charles arrived, Joanna Ciechanowska, an artist and manager of POSK's gallery, asked him: 'Have you brought your paintings, your beautiful paintings, to us?' The King, who was being shown a small painting exhibition by Polish-born actor and set and stage designer Felix Fabian, replied with a smile: 'No, sadly not,' then joked: 'I'm not sure they're that good.' After touring the exhibition, Charles told Ms Ciechanowska: 'I'll try and keep up my painting and you'll have to exhibit them here,' but he confessed: 'I haven't done any of Poland.' Polish culture on display for the King ranged from traditional dishes like pierogi – dumplings – to national dress and music. He listened as the elderly war veteran told him about his experiences and said 'thank you' at the end. Mr Niedzielski served with the Polish 1st Armoured Division and was among the troops who landed in the second wave of Normandy landings. He fought during the decisive battle to capture Normandy at the Falaise Gap, where the Allies surrounded Nazi forces. The 101-year-old described how he was deported to Russia from his homeland 85 years ago this month, something he described as ethnic cleansing, and warned: 'They are doing exactly the same now in Ukraine – the Russians, they're still doing the same thing.'
