NewzIntel.com

Category: Crime

  • MIL-OSI Security: Massachusetts State Employee and Prison Inmate Charged with Conspiring to Smuggle K2-Laced Paper Into Federal Prison

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    Inmate granted clemency on Jan. 17, 2025 reducing 2022 federal prison sentence for drug distribution

    BOSTON – A Bridgewater, Mass. woman and an inmate at the federal prison FMC Devens have been charged with conspiring to distribute a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as “K2,” into FMC Devens. The inmate had been granted clemency on Jan. 17, 2025 reducing his 2022 federal prison sentence for drug distribution. 

    Tasha Hammock, 43, an employee with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and Raymond Gaines, 45, an inmate at FMC Devens, are charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue. Hammock was arrested yesterday and made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. Gaines will make an initial appearance at a later date.

    On Jan. 25, 2022, Gaines was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court in Boston to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. At the time he committed the offenses, he was on federal judicial supervised release after serving a prison sentence resulting from a 2017 conviction for distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school. According to court records, in both prior cases Gaines was alleged to be an associate of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, a street gang in Boston. On Jan. 17, 2025, Gaines received an Executive Grant of Clemency, reducing his current federal sentence to five years in prison.  

    According to the charging document, on Aug. 18, 2024, Hammock, while visiting Gaines in the prison, surreptitiously passed K2-laced papers to Gaines, which he pocketed. In addition, Hammock allegedly previously handled money connected with the distribution of K2 to Gaines in FMC Devens, and she allegedly received K2 at her residence for distribution into the prison. The criminal complaint describes how law enforcement became interested in Hammock’s visits to Gaines after obtaining a cellphone that had allegedly been smuggled to an inmate in the prison (“Inmate A”). In September 2023, Inmate A allegedly sent messages on the cell phone to another person (“Person 1”), discussing obtaining K2 in prison. Inmate A allegedly told Person 1 that the drugs could be delivered to a particular address in Bridgewater – later determined to be Hammock’s residence – and that Inmate A’s “co” would arrange for the drugs to be brought into the prison from there.  

    As described in the charging document, K2 presents a health problem at FMC Devens, where inmates have become sick from smoking paper believed to contain K2, as well as prison staff who have been exposed to the secondary smoke.    

    The charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.   
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Dartmouth — RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment arrests two people and seizes cocaine

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment (HRD) Street Crime Enforcement Unit (SCEU) has arrested two people and executed a search warrant in Dartmouth.

    On February 27, in relation to an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, RCMP HRD SCEU officers, with the assistance of RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment, safely arrested a 40-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman during a targeted traffic stop on a taxi travelling on Nantucket Ave in Dartmouth.

    Investigators then executed a search warrant at a residence on Charlottetown Way in Dartmouth, where they located and seized cocaine, methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia, cash and cell phones.

    The man and the woman were later released on conditions. They are scheduled to appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court on April 15, at 9:30 a.m. to face charges of Possession of Cocaine for the Purpose of Trafficking and Possession of Methamphetamines for the Purpose of Trafficking.

    Anyone with information about illicit drug or other criminal activity in the Halifax Regional Municipality is encouraged to contact police at 902-490-5020. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    File: 25-17741

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Russia launching ‘suicide missions’ across strategic Dnipro river as pause in US aid hampers defence

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Veronika Poniscjakova, Deputy Director, Porstmouth Military Education Team, University of Portsmouth

    After publicly belittling Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in a White House meeting, Donald Trump has suspended US military aid to Ukraine and paused intelligence sharing. It is now clear that Ukraine is in trouble in both its political and military situations, and the latter will only worsen as the effects of the US aid suspension hit.

    Trump’s outburst has, to some extent, reinvigorated European support for the war-torn country. But Zelensky’s recent statement that “Ukraine is ready to negotiate about an end to the conflict” suggests that he recognises how precarious the situation has become.

    In Trump’s address to the US Congress on February 4, the US president welcomed this shift, and claimed that Russia was also ready for a truce.

    What would a negotiated peace look like? The side that holds the upper hand, both politically and militarily, will have a stronger position at the negotiating table.

    At the moment, the advantage is overwhelmingly with Russia, which is striving to press home its battlefield advantage and occupy as much territory as it can before a potential ceasefire. This is likely to mean a freezing of the conflict on its current lines of contact.

    The war has now lasted more than three years, and since Ukraine’s failed summer 2023 counteroffensive, there have been no major changes on the battlefield, except for Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024. Kyiv had hoped that seizing this territory could serve as a bargaining chip in future peace negotiations.

    But even this has not gone according to plan, as Russia has been steadily reclaiming the area, aided by North Korean troops.

    Recent battlefield developments reaffirm the ongoing stalemate. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) (as of March 4), Russian forces continued offensives along various key strategic points in the east and south. While Russian advances continue to be slow, it’s a situation that could change quickly, particularly with the dramatic shutdown of US assistance.

    One of the key areas where Russia is now putting intense pressure on Ukrainian troops is in the Kherson oblast in the south of the country. Russian forces are reportedly attempting to cross the Dnipro river, aiming to establish footholds on the west (right) bank at four locations to allow them a clear run at the strategically important port city of Kherson.

    Russia has successfully negotiated river crossings during the three-year war, but this time, the situation seems more challenging. Recent reporting from the frontlines has described Russian assaults on Dnipro crossings as “suicide missions”, causing heavy Russian casualties.

    A high Russian body count is nothing new in this conflict. But why is Russia willing to sacrifice so many of its soldiers, particularly when the political prospects favour Putin and the Russians?

    Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of Kherson, suggests that Russia is desperate to establish a foothold as crossing the Dnipro would open up Kherson oblast for further advances and could be used in negotiations to strengthen Russia’s claim over the entire region. The occupation of Kherson was listed by Russian defence minister, Andrei Belousov, as a key strategic goal for 2025.

    Strategic barrier

    Crossing the Dnipro will not be easy. Ukraine has tried and failed in the opposite direction on several occasions for example, in April and August 2023.

    At that stage, as part of the (ultimately unsuccessful) spring-summer offensive, Kyiv hoped crossing the river would be a major breakthrough that would lead to easier access to Crimea. This now looks like a lost cause – at least militarily.

    State of the conflict in Ukraine, March 5 2024.
    Institute for the Study of War

    The Dnipro is not only a natural barrier dividing the country into two parts. It’s also vital as a transport artery through the country and its dams provide energy.

    Russia realises this, and it has seen the river as one of Ukraine’s “centres of gravity”. On day one of the invasion, Russian forces made a beeline for the Dnipro, crossing and taking up positions that they were later forced to abandon as Ukraine fought back.

    Now, as Prokudin observed, Russia is once again throwing its troops at the river. A series of assaults in December 2024 were successfully repelled, but things have changed even in the few months since. Ukraine is in an increasingly difficult position.

    Ukraine’s military is facing increasingly critical troop shortages and has a far smaller population to draw on than Russia – something which is beginning to tell.

    And each day seems to bring further bad news. The US decision to pause intelligence sharing will mean its forces in the field will be virtually deaf and blind and at the mercy of Russian attacks on their positions (although there is reason to believe the pause may be reasonably shortlived).

    But, with the decision to halt military aid, it’s an indication of the Trump administration’s determination to force Kyiv into a peace deal – whether or not it’s acceptable to Ukraine.

    At this stage it looks almost inevitable that Ukraine will be unable to reclaim all the territory it has lost to Russia since 2014. Its best chance may be to secure what it still does control and go all-out to prevent further Russian advances. One of the ways it needs to do that right now is to ensure Russia does not establish a foothold across the Dnipro river.

    Veronika Poniscjakova does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Russia launching ‘suicide missions’ across strategic Dnipro river as pause in US aid hampers defence – https://theconversation.com/russia-launching-suicide-missions-across-strategic-dnipro-river-as-pause-in-us-aid-hampers-defence-251439

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Healthcare Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay Over $1.9M to Settle Kickback Allegations

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices, as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, Omar Hussain, of South Miami, Florida, and Saeed Medical Group Ltd. d/b/a Alliance Immediate and Primary Care, of Chicago, Illinois, agreed to pay a total of $1,913,808 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes.

    The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, TRICARE, and other federally funded healthcare programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients.

    The settlements announced today resolve allegations that healthcare providers received kickbacks in return for their referrals to a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, and that a marketer and his marketing company received kickbacks from that South Carolina laboratory to arrange for laboratory testing referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The kickbacks allegedly resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act.

    • Dr. Gerald Congdon, Coastal Urgent Care, LLC, and Coastal Wellness Center, LLC. Dr. Congdon and his medical practices in Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
    • Dr. Gbenga Aluko and Eagle Medical Center, PC. Dr. Aluko and his medical practice in Charlotte, North Carolina agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
    • Dr. Anup Banerjee and Gastonia Medical Specialty Clinic P.A. Dr. Banerjee and his medical practice in Gastonia, North Carolina agreed to pay $206,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2017 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing.
    • Omar Hussain and Curis Healthcare Inc. Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $817,808 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Hussain and his company received commissions from the South Carolina laboratory as independent contractors based on the volume and/or value of the Medicare and TRICARE referrals for laboratory testing that they arranged for and/or recommended.
    • Saeed Medical Group Ltd., Omar Hussain, and Curis Healthcare Inc. Saeed Medical Group and Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $240,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Saeed Medical Group received thousands of dollars in remuneration in the form of cash payments from Hussain and his company in return for ordering testing from the South Carolina laboratory.

    “Integrity must be the standard in our health care system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “Kickback schemes divert funds and focus away from patients and their medical needs.”

    “The public puts immense trust in medical professionals, and disdain for the rule of law damages that trust and erodes their credibility,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia field office. “These settlements should serve as a reminder that the FBI and its partners are committed to holding medical practitioners accountable for kickbacks.”

    “Kickback schemes undermine medical decision-making and jeopardize the integrity of federally funded health care programs,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our commitment is to safeguard taxpayer-funded health care and the patients who rely on it, and we will rigorously pursue any allegations of False Claims Act violations.”

    “The trust of the American taxpayer and the wellbeing of our Service members are undermined when laboratories and physicians engage in collusive financial relationships,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves by prioritizing kickbacks over patient care.”

    The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The settlements announced today were handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that physicians in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Texas received kickbacks from the same South Carolina laboratory.

    The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

    The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Staffordshire woman prosecuted for not removing illegal waste

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Staffordshire woman prosecuted for not removing illegal waste

    The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted a 43-year-old Staffordshire woman for failing to remove illegal waste from land in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

    A pile of waste at the site.

    • Calls from members of public prompts Environment Agency investigation
    • Hundreds of tonnes of waste stored on rented land in Lichfield
    • Case heard at Cannock Magistrates Court on Tuesday 4 March 2025

    At Cannock Magistrates Court on 4 March 2025, Lissa Appleby, of Nankirks Lane, Anslow, near Burton-upon-Trent, pleaded guilty to a single offence and was fined £550. She was also ordered to pay a victim’s surcharge of £220.

    The court was told that officers from the Environment Agency visited the address she was renting at Mill Farm, Cappers Lane, Whittington, Lichfield on October 13, 2023. The visit came following calls from members of the public regarding waste issues. The address consisted of a domestic property, large grounds and a barn.

    Inside the barn several hundred tonnes of dry shredded waste was discovered, containing plastic sheeting, plastic textiles, metals, wood and cardboard.

    Following a period of rainfall, the defendant was initially requested to move the waste from outside to inside the barn area as a temporary measure. This was to stop further leachate contamination.

    She was also given guidance that an environmental permit would be required for the activities carried out or for the waste to be removed by a person who held the correct waste carriers’ licence.

    The Environment Agency issued a letter to immediately cease activities at the property, believing she was operating an illegal waste site.

    Officers visited the site again on 26 October 2023 and found that the waste remained. Some had been put inside the barn, although there was still a large pile outside.

    The defendant said she could not afford to clear the site.

    Officers served a notice on the defendant, instructing her to remove all the waste on site by 3 January 2024.

    However, a further site visit on 10 January 2024 found the waste remained.

    On 31 January 2024, the defendant vacated the property, informing the letting agents she would clear all the waste within a two-week period.

    But on 29 February 2024, another visit by the Environment Agency confirmed that all the original waste remained on site. Plus additional waste had been deposited within the barn.

    A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

    This site posed a significant environmental threat due to the high risk of fire and potential impact to local communities and amenities. 

    As a regulator, the Environment Agency will not hesitate to pursue people that fail to meet their obligations. 

    Failure to comply with these legal requirements is a serious offence that can damage the environment, harm human health and undermine local legitimate waste companies.  

    If anyone is suspicious of waste activities they should call our 24/7 hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers anonymously and in confidence on 0800 555 111.

    Background

    Lissa Appleby, on 4 January 2024, being the occupier of land, namely Mill Farm, Cappers Lane, Whittington, Lichfield, WS14 9JW, failed without reasonable excuse to comply with a notice dated 13th November 2023 to remove controlled waste from the land contrary to section 59ZB(2) and 59ZB(6) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni meets with Unione delle Camere Penali Italiane

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    A meeting was held at Palazzo Chigi this morning between the Government and representatives from the National Union of Italian Criminal Bar Associations (‘Unione delle Camere Penali Italiane’, ‘UCPI’), chaired by the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni. The meeting was also attended by Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers Alfredo Mantovano, Minister of Justice Carlo Nordio, UCPI President Francesco Petrelli, UCPI Secretary Rinaldo Romanelli and, via video link, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani.

    President Meloni expressed her gratitude to the lawyers for the great work they do every day to support justice and outlined the main characteristics of the constitutional reform in the process of being examined by Parliament, the aim of which is the separation of careers between judges and public prosecutors in order to ensure equality of arms between prosecution and defence.

    Minister Nordio and Undersecretary of State Mantovano also talked about the measures that have already been adopted and the actions taken by the Government to bring an end to prison overcrowding, which remains one of the Government’s goals.

    The Government will meet with Italian Criminal Bar Associations again in the future, in order to maintain a stable forum for discussion aimed at modernising the administration of justice.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement: Attorney General Mark Temple KC responds to JEP headline story on legal spend06 March 2025 ​​​The JEP’s recent reporting on the Law Officers’ Department is inaccurate, misleading and actively undermines the LOD staff who work so hard to enforce law and order and keep our Island safe. It is disappointing… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    06 March 2025

    ​​​The JEP’s recent reporting on the Law Officers’ Department is inaccurate, misleading and actively undermines the LOD staff who work so hard to enforce law and order and keep our Island safe. It is disappointing that the JEP published a Weekend Essay, the Headline to the JEP Weekend Edition (Law officers’ ‘obscene’ £1.6 million spending revealed’) and the Editor’s Column on Saturday 1 March 2025, all without first obtaining comment from the Law Officers’ Department (LOD).

    The headline figure of £1.6 million from October 2023 to September 2024 represents all the LOD’s external legal spend in a particularly demanding year.  This includes the unprecedented large investigations relating to the gas explosion at Haut du Mont and the sinking of the L’Ecume II fishing vessel, specialist Civil cases, Safeguarding cases, Mutual Legal Assistance cases, external Crown Advocates in local Jersey law firms, and major international financial crime cases which are vital to safeguarding the Island’s reputation as a financial centre.

    The time period also coincides with a huge increase in the numbers of Royal Court trials, particularly for offences involving Violence Against Women and Girls.  The LOD is improving prosecution and conviction rates for such offences but needs input from external lawyers specialising in such cases to achieve this.

    ​The vast majority of the LOD’s cases are advised on by LOD lawyers and staff without any instruction of external lawyers.  It is only in exceptional cases where there is a particular need for additional support or training that an external lawyer is also instructed. They do not write scripts for LOD Advocates to read but, where they are instructed, they may comment on drafts produced by LOD Advocates. 

    The JEP articles omit any mention of the fact that monies spent on external lawyers can be recovered from the opposing side in litigation or from the defendant in criminal cases, through confiscation or forfeiture orders, or through costs orders.  The LOD has recovered many millions which have been paid into the Criminal Offences Confiscation Fund or the Civil Asset Recovery Fund where they can be used for the projects for the benefit of the Island.  For example, the first major confiscation under the 2018 Forfeiture of Assets (Civil Proceedings) Law resulted in US$10 million paid into the COCF in 2019, and in 2020 the Doraville case resulted in US$5 million being retained for the Island.

    It is also wrong to suggest that there is no scrutiny of spending on external lawyers.  All spending is in accordance with the procedures set out in the Public Finances Manual.  Discounted rates are obtained for the work, the work is spread between providers to ensure competitive prices, the quality of the work is monitored.  The Department is subject to audit by the C&AG. 

    The LOD has also been subject to an annual on-site inspection by Lexcel since 2019, which is an independent quality assurance standard and to independent oversight by an Audit Committee set up in accordance with a recommendation from the C&AG.  The most recent Lexcel inspection report stated:  “It is clear to the assessor that the Lexcel standard remains fully embedded in practice and the standard runs through the heart of every aspect of the department’s functions resulting in a well-managed, cohesive and risk averse department.”

    The LOD does not have a Press Officer and was contacted by the JEP with a series of questions via the General Enquiries email box less than three hours before a deadline on a day when the Practice Director was away from the office.  We replied that we were unable to respond within the tight deadline but would reply the next week when the Practice Director returned to the office.  In view of the inaccuracies summarised above it is regrettable that the JEP chose to publish without waiting for any comment or input from the LOD.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 06.03.2025, 11-32 (Moscow time) the values of the lower limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment of the UPRO security (Unipro ao) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    06.03.2025

    11:32

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 06.03.2025, 11-32 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 2.247) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1.98302 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 25.0%) of the UPRO security (Unipro JSC) were changed.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 06.03.2025, 11-38 (Moscow time) the values of the lower limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment of the UPRO security (Unipro ao) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    06.03.2025

    11:38

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 06.03.2025, 11-38 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 2.115) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1.85082 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 30.0%) of the UPRO security (Unipro JSC) were changed.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV. MEEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 06.03.2025, 12-54 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A0ZZ1M2 (PIK BO-P04) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    06.03.2025

    12:54

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 06.03.2025, 12-54 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 108.51) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1230.73 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 12.5%) of the RU000A0ZZ1M2 security (PIK BO-P04) were changed.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, January 2025

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $131.4 billion in January, up $33.3 billion from $98.1 billion in December, revised.

    U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit
    Deficit: $131.4 Billion  +34.0%°
    Exports: $269.8 Billion  +1.2%°
    Imports: $401.2 Billion  +10.0%°

    Next release: Thursday, April 3, 2025

    (°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes

    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, March 6, 2025

    Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)

    January exports were $269.8 billion, $3.3 billion more than December exports. January imports were $401.2 billion, $36.6 billion more than December imports.

    The January increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $33.5 billion to $156.8 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.2 billion to $25.4 billion.

    Year-over-year, the goods and services deficit increased $64.5 billion, or 96.5 percent, from January 2024. Exports increased $10.6 billion or 4.1 percent. Imports increased $75.2 billion or 23.1 percent.

    Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)

    The average goods and services deficit increased $19.2 billion to $102.6 billion for the three months ending in January.

    • Average exports increased $1.2 billion to $270.0 billion in January.
    • Average imports increased $20.4 billion to $372.5 billion in January.

    Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit increased $37.1 billion from the three months ending in January 2024.

    • Average exports increased $11.4 billion from January 2024.
    • Average imports increased $48.5 billion from January 2024.

    Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)

    Exports of goods increased $2.7 billion to $172.8 billion in January.

      Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $2.8 billion.

    • Capital goods increased $4.2 billion.
      • Civilian aircraft increased $1.1 billion.
      • Semiconductors increased $0.7 billion.
      • Computers increased $0.5 billion.
      • Civilian aircraft engines increased $0.5 billion.
    • Consumer goods increased $1.7 billion.
      • Pharmaceutical preparations increased $0.8 billion.
      • Jewelry increased $0.6 billion.
    • Other goods decreased $1.3 billion. (See the “Notice” for more information.)
    • Foods, feeds, and beverages decreased $1.0 billion.
      • Soybeans decreased $0.8 billion.

      Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.1 billion.

    Exports of services increased $0.6 billion to $97.0 billion in January.

    • Financial services increased $0.2 billion.
    • Telecommunications, computer, and information services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Other business services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Transport increased $0.1 billion.
    • Maintenance and repair services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Government goods and services decreased $0.3 billion.

    Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)

    Imports of goods increased $36.2 billion to $329.5 billion in January.

      Imports of goods on a Census basis increased $36.2 billion.

    • Industrial supplies and materials increased $23.1 billion.
      • Finished metal shapes increased $20.5 billion.
    • Consumer goods increased $6.0 billion.
      • Pharmaceutical preparations increased $5.2 billion.
      • Cell phones and other household goods increased $1.2 billion.
    • Capital goods increased $4.6 billion.
      • Computers increased $3.0 billion.
      • Computer accessories increased $1.2 billion.
      • Telecommunications equipment increased $1.1 billion.

      Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.1 billion.

    Imports of services increased $0.4 billion to $71.7 billion in January.

    • Charges for the use of intellectual property increased $0.2 billion.
    • Other business services increased $0.1 billion.
    • Travel decreased $0.1 billion.

    Real Goods in 2017 Dollars – Census Basis (exhibit 11)

    The real goods deficit increased $30.8 billion, or 27.5 percent, to $142.9 billion in January, compared to a 27.4 percent increase in the nominal deficit.

    • Real exports of goods increased $0.6 billion, or 0.4 percent, to $142.3 billion, compared to a 1.6 percent increase in nominal exports.
    • Real imports of goods increased $31.4 billion, or 12.4 percent, to $285.2 billion, compared to a 12.5 percent increase in nominal imports.

    Revisions

    Exports and imports of goods and services were revised for July through December 2024 to incorporate more comprehensive and updated quarterly and monthly data. In addition to these revisions, seasonally adjusted data for all months of 2024 were revised so that the totals of the seasonally adjusted months equal the annual totals.

    Revisions to December exports

    • Exports of goods were revised down $0.1 billion.
    • Exports of services were revised up $0.1 billion.

    Revisions to December imports

    • Imports of goods were revised up $0.2 billion.
    • Imports of services were revised down $0.6 billion.

    Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (exhibit 19)

    The January figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Netherlands ($4.3), South and Central America ($4.3), Belgium ($0.6), and Brazil ($0.6). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($29.7), European Union ($25.5), Switzerland ($22.8), Mexico ($15.5), Ireland ($12.4), Vietnam ($11.9), Canada ($11.3), Germany ($7.6), Taiwan ($7.5), Japan ($7.4), South Korea ($5.4), India ($4.2), Italy ($3.5), Malaysia ($2.5), Australia ($2.0), Hong Kong ($1.4), France ($1.0), Singapore ($1.0), Israel ($0.6), United Kingdom ($0.5), and Saudi Arabia ($0.1).

    • The deficit with Switzerland increased $9.8 billion to $22.8 billion in January. Exports increased $0.6 billion to $1.8 billion and imports increased $10.3 billion to $24.6 billion.
    • The deficit with Ireland increased $6.2 billion to $12.4 billion in January. Exports increased less than $0.1 billion to $1.2 billion and imports increased $6.2 billion to $13.6 billion.
    • The surplus with South and Central America increased $0.7 billion to $4.3 billion in January. Exports increased $0.3 billion to $18.0 billion and imports decreased $0.5 billion to $13.7 billion.

    Goods and Services by Selected Countries and Areas: Quarterly – Balance of Payments Basis (exhibit 20)

    Statistics on trade in goods and services by country and area are only available quarterly, with a one-month lag. With this release, fourth-quarter figures are now available.

    The fourth-quarter figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America ($19.1), Netherlands ($18.6), Australia ($7.1), Singapore ($7.0), Brazil ($7.0), United Kingdom ($4.9), Hong Kong ($4.3), Saudi Arabia ($3.4), and Belgium ($1.5). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($68.8), Mexico ($48.0), European Union ($38.5), Vietnam ($32.7), Germany ($21.1), Taiwan ($18.9), Japan ($17.0), Switzerland ($15.7), India ($13.2), South Korea ($12.5), Italy ($11.1), Canada ($10.5), Ireland ($7.8), Malaysia ($7.4), France ($4.5), and Israel ($2.1).

    • The deficit with Switzerland increased $12.1 billion to $15.7 billion in the fourth quarter. Exports decreased $1.6 billion to $18.8 billion and imports increased $10.6 billion to $34.5 billion.
    • The deficit with India increased $3.4 billion to $13.2 billion in the fourth quarter. Exports decreased $0.2 billion to $20.6 billion and imports increased $3.2 billion to $33.8 billion.
    • The deficit with the European Union decreased $5.8 billion to $38.5 billion in the fourth quarter. Exports decreased $0.9 billion to $164.8 billion and imports decreased $6.7 billion to $203.3 billion.

    All statistics referenced are seasonally adjusted; statistics are on a balance of payments basis unless otherwise specified. Additional statistics, including not seasonally adjusted statistics and details for goods on a Census basis, are available in exhibits 1-20b of this release. For information on data sources, definitions, and revision procedures, see the explanatory notes in this release. The full release can be found at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-Release/current_press_release/index.html or www.bea.gov/data/intl-trade-investment/international-trade-goods-and-services. The full schedule is available in the Census Bureau’s Economic Briefing Room at www.census.gov/economic-indicators/ or on BEA’s website at www.bea.gov/news/schedule.

    Next release: April 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT
    U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, February 2025

    Notice

    Impact of Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) Release of CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM)

    The CBSA introduced a new accounting system (CARM) on October 21, 2024. As a result, importers in Canada have experienced delays in filing shipment information. These delays affected the compilation of statistics on U.S. exports of goods to Canada for September 2024 through January 2025, which are derived from data compiled by Canada through the United States – Canada Data Exchange. A dollar estimate of the filing backlog is included in estimates for late receipts and, following the U.S. Census Bureau’s customary practice for late receipt estimates, is included in the export end-use category “Other goods” as well as in exports to Canada. This estimate will be replaced with the actual transactions reported by the Harmonized System classification in June 2025 with the release of “U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, Annual Revision.” Until then, please refer to the supplemental spreadsheet “CARM Exports to Canada Corrections,” which provides a breakdown of the late receipts by 1-digit end-use category for statistics through 2024. This spreadsheet will be updated as late export transactions are received to reflect reassignments from the initial “Other goods” category to the appropriate 1-digit end-use category. Any 2025 impacts will be revised in June 2026.

    If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division, International Trade Macro Analysis Branch, on 800-549-0595, option 4, or at eid.international.trade.data@census.gov.

    Upcoming Changes to the Real (Chained-Dollar) Series

    Effective with the release of the February 2025 statistics on April 3, 2025, the Census Bureau will continue to use the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes to calculate the chained-dollar series (exhibits 10 and 11). The BLS will be implementing changes to the indexes with the release of the February 2025 U.S. Import and Export Price Indexes on March 18, 2025. The changes to the indexes could impact the chained-dollar values. Please refer to the BLS notice for additional information on the Upcoming Change to Data Source for Import and Export Price Indexes: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Census Bureau, Economic Statistical Methods Division, International Trade Statistical Methods Branch, on 301-763-3080.

    Upcoming Updates to Goods and Services

    With the releases of the “U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services” report (FT-900) and the FT-900 Annual Revision on June 5, 2025, statistics on trade in goods, on both a Census basis and a balance of payments (BOP) basis, will be revised beginning with 2020 and statistics on trade in services will be revised beginning with 1999. The revised statistics for goods on a BOP basis and for services will also be included in the “U.S. International Transactions, 1st Quarter 2025 and Annual Update” report and in the international transactions interactive database, both to be released by BEA on June 24, 2025.

    Revised statistics on trade in goods will reflect:

    • Corrections and adjustments to previously published not seasonally adjusted statistics for goods on a Census basis.
    • End-use reclassifications of several commodities.
    • Recalculated seasonal and trading-day adjustments.
    • Newly available and revised source data on BOP adjustments, which are adjustments that BEA applies to goods on a Census basis to convert them to a BOP basis. See the “Goods (balance of payments basis)” section in the explanatory notes for more information.

    Revised statistics on trade in services will reflect:

    • Newly available and revised source data, primarily from BEA surveys of international services.
    • Corrections and adjustments to previously published not seasonally adjusted statistics.
    • Recalculated seasonal adjustments.
    • Revised temporal distributions of quarterly source data to monthly statistics. See the “Services” section in the explanatory notes for more information.

    A preview of BEA’s 2025 annual update of the International Transactions Accounts will be available in the Survey of Current Business in April 2025.

    If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the Census Bureau, Economic Indicators Division, International Trade Macro Analysis Branch, on (800) 549-0595, option 4, or at eid.international.trade.data@census.gov or BEA, Balance of Payments Division, at InternationalAccounts@bea.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Deer Lake RCMP investigates fraud at Shears Building Supplies in Deer Lake, seeks public’s assistance locating building materials

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Deer Lake RCMP is investigating a fraud that occurred at Shears Building Supplies in Deer Lake. Various building materials, including bundles of shingles, siding and siding accessories, were fraudulently obtained.

    On February 26, 2025, police received the report from the business identifying a fraud that had occurred in November of 2024. On November 25, three males attended the building supply store and fraudulently obtained various building supplies. They departed in a white GMC truck with a utility trailer in tow. An image is attached.

    The materials, valued at nearly $15,000.00, included:

    • Bundles of IKO Marathon Plus Dual black shingles
    • Bundles of KAYCAN siding – colors Cabot red and Boulder grey

    Images of the materials are attached.

    Police believe the supplies may have been sold by those who obtained them and are looking to identify and speak with those who may have purchased these products. The investigation is continuing.

    Anyone who suspects they may have purchased these specific items or anyone who has any information about this crime, including the identity of the individuals in the pickup truck, are asked to contact Deer Lake RCMP at 709-635-2173. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 06.03.2025, 10-22 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A0JWTN2 (Rostel1P1R) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    06.03.2025

    10:22

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC) on 06.03.2025, 10-22 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 107.93) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1220.55 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 10.0%) of the security RU000A0JWTN2 (Rostel1P1R) were changed.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.M.M.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: 06.03.2025, 10-25 (Moscow time) the values of the lower boundary of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the security RU000A1008P1 (Rosnft2P6) were changed.

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

    06.03.2025

    10:25

    In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of Moscow Exchange PJSC by NCO NCC (JSC), on 06.03.2025, 10-25 (Moscow time), the values of the lower limit of the price corridor (up to 82.45) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 800.0 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 11.25%) of the security RU000A1008P1 (Rosnft2P6) were changed.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV. MOEX.K.Mom/N78258

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – “Insecurity prevails in Bukavu where not a night goes by without three or four bodies found on the street”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – “Not a night goes by in Bukavu without finding three or four bodies on the street. Bodies also emerge from the lake,” report local church sources in Bukavu, the capital of the Congolese province of South Kivu (in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo), which fell into the hands of the M23 rebel movement in mid-February (see Fides, 17/2/2025). Our sources, who have requested anonymity for security reasons, describe a city where the law of the strongest prevails. “Criminal gangs are still active, but they do not usually kill…. Small or large thefts are committed by these gangs, but the major looting is carried out with impunity by the M23 and its allies: a bank was emptied and three cassiterite deposits were looted”.It is also noted that “the looting that the city experienced before Sunday, February 16, the day of the official entry of the M23, was not only due to young people who found the weapons left behind by the fleeing soldiers of the regular Congolese army (FARDC). The M23 had already entered the city on Friday, February 14, and the major looting in the Kadutu market, accompanied by devastation, took place on Saturday, February 15”.The report also shows how the looting by the occupiers is taking place on a large scale: “The last known theft of minerals took place in the night of Thursday to Friday, February 27-28, in the Nguba district: 34 already sealed barrels of cassiterite ready for sale were rolled into large buses and loaded in the middle of the night after tying up two guards and beating and abducting two others, who were only released on Sunday. On the radio, the new authorities called on the population to report the looting. ‘To whom?’ asked a dejected operator of the plant.” “But when armed bandits attack and people call the M23 soldiers, they come and ruthlessly shoot everyone they meet in the area, even if it is only eight in the evening. They shoot to kill, they say they have no bullets to waste. On March 4, the Red Cross buried some of the victims of the February 27 attacks in the Bagira cemetery (see Fides, 27/2/2025), other bodies were recovered by the families. The new authorities gave an envelope of money to the families of those killed, but they say they have little money because the war is expensive”. “There are hardly any cars on the road, apart from taxis and old cars. The better ones have either already been taken over by the M23 or are kept hidden. If you are driving a Land Cruiser, they can easily stop you and ask for the keys. Cars are sent to Rwanda, just like looted minerals. So if there was any need for proof in whose name this war is being fought…” The insecurity has practically brought social life in Bukavu to a standstill. The sources report that “classes in schools have not resumed because parents are afraid to let their children leave the house; moreover, they would not know how to pay the quarterly fees in the face of increasing misery. And: who will pay the teachers’ salaries? The journalists have been told what to do: sing the glory of the occupiers, not to spread information from Kinshasa, but only their information, no longer speak of ‘occupied zones’ but of ‘liberated zones’, no ‘press Union’, they themselves will give the journalists an ID, each media outlet will have to declare its location”. “And on the streets, a cloak of sadness lies over everyone, which is very unusual for the Congolese people,” conclude our sources. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 6/3/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE arrests criminal alien and foreign fugitive wanted for felony drug trafficking in Brazil

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    BOSTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested criminal alien and fugitive from justice Leandro Romano de Souza, 27, for a felony drug trafficking conviction in Brazil, Jan. 27.

    “The arrest of this criminal alien, who illegally entered the U.S. in an attempt to evade justice, underscores our relentless commitment to identifying and apprehending individuals who exploit our borders to escape accountability,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde. “We remain dedicated to working closely with our international law enforcement partners to ensure that foreign fugitives seeking refuge in our communities are swiftly located and removed from our community.”

    Romano de Souza entered the United States at or near Calexico, California, without inspection or admission by an immigration officer in April 2024. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Romano de Souza and released him on an order of recognizance.

    The Criminal Enforcement Court of the District of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil issued an arrest warrant for Romano de Souza in September 2024 to serve the remainder of his 14 plus year sentence in Brazil.

    ICE arrested Romano de Souza during an enhanced operation in Peabody, Jan. 27. Romano de Souza remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

    Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X: @EROBoston.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The online accounts and company tax return service is closing

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    The online accounts and company tax return service is closing

    The joint online filing service will close on 31 March 2026.

    Companies House and HMRC are closing the joint online filing service on 31 March 2026.

    Companies have used this service to file their accounts and Company Tax Returns at the same time with Companies House and HMRC, but it will close in 12 months’ time.

    From 1 April 2026, companies can file their annual accounts with Companies House using third party software, our web services or paper filing. However, you will need to use software to file your Company Tax Return with HMRC.

    Why the service is closing

    The service is closing because it’s now outdated. It no longer aligns to modern digital standards, enhanced corporation tax requirements or changes to UK company law under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA).

    Closing the service also reinforces the big changes taking place at Companies House, as we implement further measures set out in the ECCTA and introduce new processes such as Identity Verification (IDV).

    What you need to do

    We recommend downloading and saving at least 3 years of accounts filings for your company. You will not be able to access any previous filings on this service after 1 April 2026.

    Start considering your software filing options. You’ll need to find a suitable software provider that can meet your filing needs for both Companies House and HMRC.

    Find out more about what you need to do to prepare for the closure of the online service to file your accounts and Company Tax Return.

    Moving to filing accounts by software only

    In the future, you’ll only be able to file accounts with Companies House using third party software.

    Although there are currently other ways to file accounts with us, most companies can make the change to using software now.

    Filing accounts through software gives you the greatest flexibility to showcase the financial data of your company. It can also give you a variety of functionality to support the running of your business. Many software providers offer a range of accounting packages to help you prepare and file accounts – you can find software for filing company documents.

    This future change supports our goal of enabling a fully digital filing service. It will also help us to meet our organisational priority to prevent economic crime and bring the UK in line with international best practice.  

    We’ll aim to give companies at least 21 months’ notice before this change comes into effect.

    Sign up for our newsletters to stay up to date with our services.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Questor Announces Sale of Clean Combustion Solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Questor Technology Inc. (“Questor”, the “Company”), (TSX Venture Exchange: QST) announced today a $0.9 million purchase order to supply a clean combustion solution to manage a variety of railcar vapours at a Caltrax Inc. full-service railcar repair and maintenance facility in Calgary.

    Questor’s partnership with Caltrax highlights the versatility of Questor’s clean combustion units, used in this application to safely and cleanly combust hydrocarbon vapours in urban settings, such as Calgary. Questor’s ISO 14034-certified clean combustion units are engineered to safely manage rail car vapours through a variety of waste gas compositions, eliminating methane and other harmful pollutants at a 99.99% combustion efficiency. These units meet and exceed the most stringent global emissions standards.

    Designed with innovation and efficiency at the forefront, the units deliver significant cost savings to clients in capital, fuel, and operations. Designed, engineered, and manufactured in Canada, Questor’s clean combustion units are specifically developed to meet evolving global emission standards, addressing the unique challenges of sour gas and other complex pollutants.

    ABOUT QUESTOR TECHNOLOGY INC.

    Questor Technology Inc., incorporated in Canada under the Business Companies Act (Alberta) is an environmental emissions reduction technology company founded in 1994, with global operations. The Company is focused on clean air technologies that safely and cost effectively improve air quality, support energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions. The Company designs, manufactures and services high efficiency clean combustion systems that destroy harmful pollutants, including Methane, Hydrogen Sulfide gas, Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons, Hazardous Air Pollutants and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene) gases within waste gas streams at 99.99 percent efficiency per its ISO 14034 Certification. This enables its clients to meet emission regulations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address community concerns and improve safety at industrial sites.

    The Company also has proprietary heat to power generation technology and is currently targeting new markets including landfill biogas, syngas, waste engine exhaust, geothermal and solar, cement plant waste heat in addition to a wide variety of oil and gas projects. The combination of Questor’s clean combustion and power generation technologies can help clients achieve net zero emission targets for minimal cost. The Company is also doing research and development on data solutions to deliver an integrated system that amalgamates all the emission detection data available to demonstrate a clear picture of the site’s emission profile.

    The Company’s common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “QST”. The address of the Company’s corporate and registered office is 2240, 140 – 4 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 3N3.

    QUESTOR TRADES ON THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE UNDER THE SYMBOL ‘QST’

    Investor Relations Contact

    Aly Sumar – Chief Financial Officer

    investor@questortech.com 

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    This document is not intended for dissemination or distribution in the United States.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Biz2Credit’s Women-Owned Business Study Reports Women Are Closing The Funding Gap

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In its annual analysis of over 53,000 companies, the Biz2Credit Women-Owned Business Study found that the funding percentage (36%) for women-owned businesses that applied for financing in 2024 increased from 35% in 2023. In comparison, the funding rate for male-owned businesses in 2024 was just 29%.

    Additionally, that the average funding amounts women received jumped by 25% from 2023 to 2024. In 2023, the average funding amount for women-owned businesses was $53,678. A year later, in 2024, the average amount was $67,035.

    Further analysis showed that the average annual revenue of women-owned firms in 2024 increased 15% to nearly $520,000, although expenses rose as well.

    The Biz2Credit Women-Owned Business Study examined financial indicators including annual revenue, operating expenses, earnings, age of business, credit scores, funding rates, and funding amounts of companies that applied for credit on Biz2Credit’s online platform in 2024.

    “The funding rate and average loan amount for women-owned businesses rose in 2024, which is good news,” said Rohit Arora, CEO and co-founder of Biz2Credit and one of the nation’s leading experts in small business finance. “The percentage of funding applications from women was 36%, compared to 29% for men last year. Women-owned businesses have also shortened the gap in average funding size to just 20% less than men-owned businesses, a significant improvement compared to last year’s difference of 40%.”

    “All is not rosy, however,” Arora added. “Women business owners, along with their male counterparts, saw expenses rise significantly largely because of inflation in 2024. SMBs are hoping that costs will come down, although it has not happened yet.”

    Key Findings:

    • The Funding Rate for women-owned businesses rose from 35% in 2023 to 36% in 2024. In contrast to their male counterparts, the funding rate for men-owned firms was 29% in 2024.
    • The Average Funding Size for women-owned businesses was $67,035 in 2024, a 25% increase from $53,678 in 2023. In comparison, men-owned businesses saw an increase of 7% in average loan sizes, up from $75,045 in 2023 to $80,140 in 2024.
    • The Average Age of Business (in months) for women-owned businesses increased 10 months YoY, from 62 in 2023 to 72 months (6 years) in 2024, but remains 14 months lower than men-owned businesses, up from 72 in 2023 to 86 (slightly more than 7 years) in 2024.
    • The Average Credit Score for women business owners increased by 10 points, from 643 in 2023 to 653 in 2024. Credit scores for male business owners also increased 10 points, from 660 in 2023 to 670 in 2024.
    • Financing Applications by State: California had the highest percentage (12.8%) of funding applications of women-owned businesses, followed by the 2023 leader, Florida (12.5%) and Texas (10%).
    • Financing Applications by Industry: Services (except Public Administration) was the largest industry represented by women-owned companies (14.9%) in the Biz2Credit study, followed by Healthcare and Social Assistance (14.5%), Retail Trade (13.5%) Accommodation and Food Services (12.1%), and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Service (9.5%).
    • Average Annual Revenue for women-owned businesses increased 15%, from $451,443 in 2023 to $519,886 in 2024, while male-owned businesses rose 8%, from $688,611 in 2023 to $743,643 in 2024. The revenue gap between women-owned and men-owned businesses was $223,757 in 2024.
    • Average Operating Expenses of women-owned businesses increased 38%, from $363,909 in 2023 to $503,8426 in 2024. Men-owned business also saw a 31% increase in average operating expenses.

    Comparing Women-Owned and Men-Owned Businesses: A Year-over-Year Analysis

      2023 2024
    Categories Women Men Women Men
    Average Revenue $451,443 $688,611 $519,886 $743,643
    Average Operating Expenses $363,909 $541,602 $503,426 $711,670
    Average Age of Business (months) 62 72 72 86
    Average Credit Score* 643 660 653 670
    Average Funding Size $53,678 $75,045 $67,035 $80,140
    Funding Rate 35 30 36 29


    Comparison of Women-Owned and Men-Owned Businesses Year-over-Year (YoY)

    Categories Women
    YoY Difference    		 Men
    YoY Difference
    Average Revenue +15% +8%
    Average Operating Expenses +38% +31%
    Average Age of Business (months) +10 +14  
    Average Credit Score* (points) +10 +10
    Average Funding Size +25% +7%
    Funding Rate +3% -3%

    *Average credit score is derived from the personal FICO credit scores of business owners.

    Top 5 Financing Applications by State in 2024 for Women-Owned Businesses

    States Women
    California 12.8%
    Florida 12.5%
    Texas 10%
    Georgia 6.6%
    New York 5.1%


    Top 5 Financing Applications by Industry in 2024 for Women-Owned Businesses

    Industries Women
    Other Services (except Public Administration) 14.9%
    Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Retail Trade 13.5%
    Accommodation and Food Services 12.1%
    Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 9.5%


    Importance of Women-Owned Businesses

    During 2024, women-owned businesses had an estimated $2.1 trillion in receipts, 11.4 million employees, and $508.5 billion in annual payroll, as reported by Census Bureau (Nov. 2024).

    According to the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) Annual Report, there are 14.5 million women-owned businesses that account for 39.2% of all businesses in the U.S. This number is a 11.5% increase from 2019 to 2024 and demonstrates that women-owned firms emerged stronger from the COVID pandemic than they did from the 2008 financial crisis.

    Methodology

    The dataset for Biz2Credit’s Women-Owned Business Study comprises over 53,000 completed commercial funding applications received via the Biz2Credit platform in 2024. The four most important variables in the analysis were: annual revenue, operating expenses, age of business, and personal credit score. The data was then tabulated to examine women-owned and men-owned businesses based on annual revenue, operating expenses, age of business, personal credit score, funding rate, and average loan size. The study looked at 20 different industries, as well as geography.

    About Biz2Credit

    Founded in 2007, Biz2Credit has helped thousands of companies access more than $10 billion in small business financing. The company is expanding its industry-leading Biz2X technology in custom digital platform solutions for banks and other financial institutions, investors, and service providers. Visit www.biz2credit.com, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).

    Media Contact: John Mooney, (908) 720-6057, john@overthemoonpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: March 2025 update from the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority

    Source: Isle of Man

    The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has issued its latest update for stakeholders.

    The March 2025 bulletin includes an introduction from CEO Bettina Roth, details about forthcoming events and conferences, and how we are using data to enhance compliance standards.

    We also highlight our future prudential and conduct supervision themes, explain the work taking place to modernise pensions legislation, recap recent changes to the AML/CFT Handbook, and provide a timeline for the Island’s MONEYVAL evaluation.

    The bulletin can be viewed via this link.

    Contents

    • CEO introduction
    • Deadline approaching for Annual AML/CFT Returns
    • Date confirmed for Island’s MONEYVAL evaluation
    • 2025 Countering Financial Crime Conference
    • Enhancing compliance standards through data
    • Prudential and conduct supervision themes
    • Event for designated businesses
    • Making a Difference
    • Your co-operation and support are appreciated
    • Updated version of AML/CFT Handbook published
    • Pensions regulatory update
    • Updated version of Supervisory Methodology Framework
    • Authority raises funds for Alzheimer’s Society IOM
    • In case you missed it

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tough controls considered to regulate private prosecutors

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Tough controls considered to regulate private prosecutors

    Private prosecutors face greater transparency and accountability over unregulated or unlawful activity following a consultation to overhaul the current system.

    • Consultation launched today (6 March) on reforming private prosecutions and Single Justice Procedure
    • Options include a mandatory code of practice, inspections and requirement to consider mitigating circumstances
    • Announcement follows systematic failures, including the Post Office Horizon scandal and builds on the Government’s pledge to restore confidence in the criminal justice system through its Plan for Change

    Private prosecutions allow people to pursue justice where state prosecutors cannot, or choose not, to prosecute. However, the improper actions of some organisations have resulted in serious and often life-changing miscarriages of justice. Examples include the Post Office Horizon scandal, which saw failings in the prosecutorial practices leading to hundreds of innocent postmasters being wrongfully convicted.

    Thousands of people have also been handed criminal convictions for legitimate mistakes such as unpaid bills and purchasing the wrong train ticket. This includes situations where there have been strong personal mitigating factors, meaning the cases were not pursued in the public interest.

    The government is calling for views on reforms which will enable better oversight and regulation of these prosecutors to prevent such failures in the future. This builds on the government’s broader efforts to restore public confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system through its Plan for Change.

    Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, said:

    Recent catastrophic failures in private prosecutions have highlighted that our current system is open to abuse. That cannot be allowed to continue.

    We will listen carefully to the feedback from this consultation and develop stronger safeguards for the public to restore confidence in our justice system.

    Following proposals made by the Justice Select Committee, the consultation aims to set consistent standards and ensure accountability to improve the behaviour and practice of prosecutors.

    Consultation proposals include the introduction of a mandatory code of practice, establishing an inspection regime, and putting in place a system of accreditation for private prosecutors.
    To make these prosecutions more transparent, measures could also include a requirement for organisations and agencies to register with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) before bringing a private prosecution, and to publish data on their prosecutions.

    The consultation will also look at how the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) can be improved to ensure all cases brought are in the public interest. Suggested changes include requirements for SJP prosecutors to engage with defendants to assess their vulnerability, and to consider their personal and mitigating circumstances before pursuing a prosecution that might lead to a criminal record.

    Justice Minister, Sarah Sackman KC, said:

    Fairness and transparency are at the heart of our justice system. However, certain organisations have been allowed to bring life-changing and unjust prosecutions affecting thousands of people, without robust checks and balances. 

    It is time to hold prosecutors to account and provide oversight which protects ordinary people. We will ensure that prosecutions are always fair and in the public interest.

    The consultation’s proposals will apply to all private and non-criminal justice agency prosecutors. This includes state-run agencies such as the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency and TV Licensing, as well as companies and private organisations such as Northern Rail.

    Further information

    • The consultation will close on 8th May.
    • Private prosecutors, as defined in the consultation, excludes those categorised as ‘criminal justice agencies’ – the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), police (including British Transport Police), and the National Crime Agency (NCA). For the purposes of this consultation, all other organisations are referred to as ‘private prosecutors’. This includes public agencies that bring prosecutions as well as private or third sector bodies.
    • Individuals who bring private prosecutions on their own behalf are not within the scope of the proposals discussed in the consultation.
    • SJP sees a single magistrate, supported by a legally qualified adviser, try adult summary-only cases, and is important for a streamlined legal process and swift justice.
    • The Office for Rail and Road is conducting a separate independent review of train operators’ revenue protection enforcement practices, including the use of prosecutions. This will report back in May and will support the consultation announced today.

    The Government is consulting on the following policy options:

    • The introduction of a mandatory code of practice for private prosecutors, including requirements for private prosecutors to maintain separation of investigatory and prosecutorial functions, and a requirement to fully consider whether prosecutions are in the public interest.
    • The introduction of mandatory inspections of private prosecutors.
    • The introduction of a system of accreditation for private prosecutors.
    • The introduction of additional requirements for prosecutors using the Single Justice Procedure to engage with the defendant and assess their vulnerability before commencing a prosecution.
    • The introduction of a requirement for all mitigation provided to the court to be sent to prosecutors before the case is decided by a magistrate.
    • The introduction of a requirement for private prosecutors to register with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service when the number of prosecutions they bring per annum reaches a specified threshold
    • The introduction of a requirement for private prosecutors who bring a specified number of prosecutions per annum to publish their own data on these prosecutions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two men charged with murder in connection with fatal shooting in 2016

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Two men have been charged with murder following the death of a man, who was shot in Haringey in 2016.

    On Tuesday, 30 August 2016, Joel Bempah-Cumberbatch, 25 was shot on Turnpike Lane, Wood Green at around 15:22hrs.

    He was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound to his head.

    His injuries left him with significant brain damage and on 20, September 2022, he sadly died.

    In 2017 two men were convicted of attempting to murder Joel and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 13 years.

    Detectives within Specialist Crime North submitted a further file to the Crown Prosecution Service and on Monday, 3 March, the two men appeared at Highbury Magistrates Court in relation to murder charges. They appeared at the Central Criminal Court on the 5 March and a trial date was set for 16 February 2026.

    Jason Diur Kota, 29 (29.12.1995) and Denzican Karadag, 28 (26.03.1996) will next appear at the Old Bailey on 21 May 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – European Parliament Press Kit for the Special European Council of 6 March 2025

    Source: European Parliament

    European Parliament President Roberta Metsola will represent the European Parliament at the special summit, where she will address the heads of state or government at 12.30.

    European Council President António Costa convened the Special European Council to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence, with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

    On 24 February 2025, the President of the European Parliament, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission issued a joint statement, saying “Russia and its leadership bear sole responsibility for this war and the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian population. We continue to call for accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity committed. We welcome the recent steps made towards the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.”

    The three Presidents highlighted that “Ukraine is part of our European family” and that “the future of Ukraine and its citizens lies within the European Union.”. They said “the need to ensure the international community’s continued focus on supporting Ukraine in achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the Ukrainian peace formula. We stand firm with Ukraine, reaffirming that peace, security, and justice will prevail.”

    On 11 February, Parliament’s Conference of Presidents issued a statement on continuing the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, after three years of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression. EP leaders reaffirmed their “steadfast solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience and courage in defending their sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. The European Union must remain united in its commitment to support Ukraine that includes political, military, economic, humanitarian and financial assistance. (…) . We call on the EU and its member states to increase and speed up the delivery of its support, in particular of its military support and establish a legal regime allowing for the confiscation of Russian-owned assets frozen by the EU.”

    Also on 11 February, the Chair of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, addressed a formal sitting of the European Parliament. Welcoming Mr Stefanchuk, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “I am proud that this Parliament has stood with Ukraine from the very first moment – united, unwavering, and resolute. We will keep pushing for peace. Peace must be just, it must be dignified, and it must be based on the principle of ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’.”

    In a resolution adopted on 23 January, MEPs condemn the Russian regime’s systematic falsification of historical arguments to justify its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The text rejects historical claims by the Russian regime used to undermine Ukraine’s history and national identity as futile attempts to justify its ongoing illegal war. Parliament issues a strong call for the EU and its member states to increase and better coordinate their efforts to promptly and rigorously counter Russian disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference. This is essential, they say, to protect the integrity of democratic processes and strengthen the resilience of European societies.

    The resolution also calls on the EU to expand its sanctions against Russian media outlets conducting disinformation campaigns championing Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. It urges EU countries to implement these sanctions thoroughly and to dedicate sufficient resources to effectively addressing hybrid warfare. MEPs also want the EU to step up its support for exiled independent Russian media to facilitate diverse voices in the Russian-language media.

    On 28 November 2024, MEPs adopted a resolution calling for more military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea. They condemn Russia’s use of North Korean troops against the Ukrainian army and its testing of new ballistic missiles in Ukraine. These recent escalatory steps represent a new phase in the war and a new risk for Europe’s security as a whole, MEPs argue, calling on the EU and Ukraine’s other international partners to respond accordingly.

    Insisting that “no negotiations about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine”, MEPs urge the EU to work towards achieving the broadest possible international support for Ukraine and identifying a peaceful solution to the war. The resolution also demands the Council extend its sanctions against Russia, particularly against sectors of special economic importance, such as the metallurgical, nuclear, chemical, agricultural and banking sectors, and on Russian raw materials.

    Extraordinary plenary session with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    On 19 November 2024, Parliament held an extraordinary plenary session with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking 1000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Opening the sitting, EP President Roberta Metsola said Parliament would stand with Ukraine until it has “freedom and real peace, for as long as it takes.” She added that the Ukrainian people’s sacrifice over the previous 1,000 days was not just for themselves but for every European’s freedom and way of life.

    In his address, President Zelenskyy thanked the EU for its support and said that Ukraine, all of Europe, and our partners in America and around the world have succeeded not only in “preventing Putin from taking Ukraine” but also in defending the freedom of all European nations. “Putin remains smaller than the united strength of Europe. I urge you not to forget this, and not to forget how much Europe is capable of achieving. We can surely push Russia towards a just peace. Peace is what we desire the most,” he added. President Zelenskyy concluded by saying: “No one can enjoy calm water amid the storm. We must do everything we can to end this war fairly and justly. 1,000 days of war is a tremendous challenge. We must make the next year the year of peace.”

    Statement by EP leaders marking 1,000 days of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

    Also on 19 November 2024, Parliament’s President and political group leaders adopted a statement marking 1,000 days of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war against Ukraine. “We have started EU accession talks with Ukraine as it moves towards taking its rightful place in our European family. The gradual integration of Ukraine into the Union will be a central task for all EU institutions in this legislature, along with providing long-term financial and military assistance and much-needed support,” they said. They said, “The ultimate goal remains to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine on Ukraine’s terms, ensuring the safety and dignity of its people within a peaceful and stable Europe. Together, the democratic world must send a clear, simple message: we stand with and support Ukraine in every possible way until its victory.”

    Measures against the Russian “shadow fleet”

    In a resolution adopted on 14 November 2024, Parliament calls for more targeted EU sanctions against Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’, which provides a key financial lifeline for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. MEPs demand measures against these vessels in the next EU sanctions packages, including all individual ships as well as their owners, operators, managers, accounts, banks and insurance companies. They also call for the systematic sanctioning of vessels sailing through EU waters without known insurance and urge the EU to enhance its surveillance capabilities, especially drone and satellite monitoring, and to conduct targeted inspections at sea. MEPs want EU member states to designate ports capable of handling sanctioned vessels carrying crude oil and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and to seize illegal cargo without compensation.

    Financial assistance to Ukraine

    On 22 October 2024, MEPs approved an extraordinary loan of up to €35 billion to Ukraine, to be repaid with future revenues from frozen Russian assets. Parliament endorsed the new macro-financial assistance (MFA) to help Ukraine against Russia’s brutal war of aggression. This loan is the EU’s part of a G7 package agreed last June, to provide up to $50 billion (approximately €45 billion) in financial support to Ukraine. The final amount the EU will contribute could be lower, depending on the size of the loans provided by other G7 partners.

    The Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, a newly established framework, will make future revenues from the frozen Russian Central Bank assets located in the EU available to Ukraine. These funds will help Ukraine service and repay the EU’s MFA loan as well as loans from other G7 partners. While the mechanism’s funds can be used to service and repay loans, Kyiv may allocate the MFA funds as it sees fit.

    Further reading

    Joint statement on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

    EP Conference of Presidents’ statement on EU support for Ukraine

    Ruslan Stefanchuk: “Peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we stay strong”

    MEPs condemn Russia’s use of disinformation to justify its war in Ukraine

    More military support for Ukraine amid the involvement of China and North Korea

    Zelenskyy to MEPs: “We must end this war fairly and justly”

    1000 days: Statement on Ukraine by European Parliament’s leaders

    Parliament calls for an EU crackdown on Russia’s ’shadow fleet’

    Parliament approves up to €35 billion loan to Ukraine backed by Russian assets

    MEPs: Ukraine must be able to strike legitimate military targets in Russia

    Newly elected Parliament reaffirms its strong support for Ukraine

    MEPs approve trade support measures for Ukraine with protection for EU farmers

    Joint Statement by the Presidents of the European Union Institutions on the occasion of the 2 year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine

    Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia

    EU sanctions: new rules to crack down on violations

    MEPs: EU must actively support Russia’s democratic opposition

    Yulia Navalnaya: “If you want to defeat Putin, fight his criminal gang”

    Debate 12 March 2024: Preparation of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2024

    Debate 13 March 2024: Need to address the urgent concerns surrounding Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia

    Parliament wants tougher enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia

    A long-term solution for Ukraine’s funding needs

    How the EU is supporting Ukraine

    EU stands with Ukraine

    European Defence

    At the informal European Council meeting on defence on 3 February 2025, European Parliament President Metsola outlined her vision for how Europe can and must strengthen its own security and defence. “More action, more financing, and more cooperation,” must be the EU’s goals, she argued.

    “We need to do more, much more, to ramp up defence production and increase our defence industrial readiness” she said, stressing that “the best investment in European security is investing in the security of Ukraine.”

    President Metsola argued “investing in security, is not just about protection – it is about boosting European competitiveness, driving growth, creating quality high-skilled jobs and powering everyday breakthroughs that improve how we live, work and connect. The real incentive lies in addressing fragmentation within our markets. Different rules, standards, and systems are putting up barriers and risk holding us back. It makes no sense for Europe to have 178 different weapons systems, when the United States has 30.”

    “Fragmentation costs us billions: between €25 and €75 billion are lost due to duplication and inefficiencies. The answer to this is staring us right in the face. Now is the time to move forward with a single market for defence. Europe must be responsible for its own security. No one else will do this for us,” she added

    In a report adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee on 30 January, MEPs push for the EU to strengthen its defence capacity against a backdrop of multiple security threats. The report emphasises the absolute need for the EU to recognise and meet the current challenges posed by multiple and evolving security threats. The EU, they say, needs to engage in new and better policies that will enable the European Union and its member states to strengthen their defence in Europe. Noting the limited progress and underinvestment in common European defence capability development, industrial capacity, and defence readiness since the establishment of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) 25 years ago, MEPs restate need for a truly common European approach, policies and joint efforts in the area of defence. They say a paradigm shift in EU CSDP is essential to enable the European Union to act decisively in its neighbourhood, and on the global stage, to safeguard its values, interests, citizens, and promote its strategic objectives.

    On 13 January, MEPs discussed the security situation in Europe and beyond, as well as defence and EU-NATO cooperation, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

    Regarding EU-NATO cooperation, MEPs quizzed Mr Rutte on the EU’s contribution. Defence is not limited to military issues, MEP said, adding that it includes international relations, as well as social, economic and diplomatic relations. MEPs also asked about future cooperation with the incoming Trump Administration and expressed concern about the role of Türkiye in NATO.

    Other MEPs pointed out that there are differences between NATO allies on defence issues, but unity is necessary to secure a sustainable peace in Ukraine. They also highlighted the difficult security situation in the Mediterranean and the Western Balkans.

    Several MEPs enquired about the avoidance of duplication in military production as well accelerating the development of weapons, and others raised the issue of the need to tackle hybrid threats, particularly on the eastern flank of Europe and in the Western Balkans.

    Further reading

    “Europe must be responsible for its own security”, Metsola tells EU leaders

    MEPs call on Europe to strengthen its defence capacity

    Rutte to MEPs: “We are safe now, we might not be safe in five years”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the white paper on the future of European defence – B10-0151/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    B10‑0151/2025

    European Parliament resolution on the white paper on the future of European defence

    (2025/2565(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

    – having regard to Title V of the Treaty on European Union, in particular Chapter 2, Section 2 thereof, which includes provisions on the common security and defence policy,

    – having regard to the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe of 1975,

    – having regard to the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Russian Federation of 1997,

    – having regard to the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security of 1994,

    – having regard to the Charter for European Security of 1999,

    – having regard to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949,

    – having regard to the Charter of the United Nations,

    – having regard to the EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence of 2022,

    – having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 5 March 2024 entitled ‘A new European Defence Industrial Strategy: Achieving EU readiness through a responsive and resilient European Defence Industry’ (JOIN(2024)0010),

    – having regard to the report by Mario Draghi of 9 September 2024 on the future of European competitiveness, specifically Chapter 4 on increasing security and reducing dependencies,

    – having regard to the report of its Committee on Foreign Affairs of 10 February 2025 on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2024,

    A. whereas the world is undergoing a significant transformation towards a multipolar order in which major powers such as the United States, Russia and China will play a decisive role;

    B. whereas the United States has signalled a strategic shift in focus towards its own continent and its immediate vicinity, with potential implications for its long-term commitment to European security and NATO;

    C. whereas for decades, the EU has unconditionally followed the United States in foreign and security policies, while the primary burden of defending the European continent has rested with the United States – an approach that is no longer sustainable given current geopolitical developments;

    D. whereas the EU and its Member States currently lack a coherent strategy and clear situational awareness in order to effectively shape their foreign and defence policy;

    E. whereas years of neglecting independent defence capabilities have created substantial gaps in the security and defence readiness of the EU and its Member States;

    F. whereas hybrid warfare remains one of the most significant threats to European defence, independence and sovereignty;

    G. whereas, in this regard, the US Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), has for decades invested significant amounts in media organisations that engage in global influence, such as Internews Network and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP);

    H. whereas the European External Action Service currently collaborates with USAID on multiple projects;

    I. whereas Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump have taken steps to dismantle these deep-state operations in the US by defunding USAID, NED and OCCRP, leading to mass lay-offs within these organisations;

    1. Calls on the Member States to acknowledge the new geopolitical reality and take decisive steps towards ensuring their own security and defence capabilities independently of external actors;

    2. Stresses the need for an immediate and comprehensive security assessment, followed by the development of a robust strategy that clearly defines the EU’s independent foreign and defence policy objectives;

    3. Calls for the development of a new continental European defence concept focused solely on protecting the interests and territories of the EU Member States, without advancing further supranational oversight of defence policy;

    4. Proposes initial steps towards building a European Defence Alliance;

    5. Supports the strengthening of the European defence industry, research and funding mechanisms to enhance European autonomy in defence production; notes that all funding and cooperation mechanisms must remain intergovernmental and respect the sovereignty of each EU Member State;

    6. Welcomes the proposal to establish a new permanent decision-making body composed of the defence ministers of the Member States in order to consolidate European decision-making processes on security and defence matters; emphasises that this forum must not be vested with supranational decision-making powers;

    7. Emphasises that consolidating defence capabilities should not lead to the Europeanisation of national armed forces, but rather to streamlining and mutual support in areas where individual Member States cannot act effectively alone;

    8. Calls for an open debate on the recommendations of the Draghi report with regard to enhancing security and reducing dependencies, stressing the urgency of initiating this discussion at EU level;

    9. Stresses that negotiations on the future security architecture of Europe must involve all the relevant actors; calls for the EU to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to establish a realistic and sustainable European security framework;

    10. Reaffirms that all states have legitimate national security interests that must be respected; emphasises that no state should strengthen its security at the expense of another, in line with the principles of the Helsinki Final Act;

    11. Calls for strict adherence to the principle of non-interference and other universal norms of international law as a guiding principle for EU foreign and security policy;

    12. Expresses deep concern over the substantial financial influence exerted by USAID, NED and OCCRP over European media organisations; condemns, in this regard, the targeted media attacks orchestrated against multiple European politicians by these organisations in an apparent effort to manipulate electoral outcomes;

    13. Calls for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the extent of the involvement of USAID, NED and OCCRP in EU Member States’ elections and policymaking processes; calls on the Commission to conduct a full audit of all financial transactions between the EU institutions and USAID, OCCRP, the Open Society Foundations and NED, and to make these findings public;

    14. Demands that the European External Action Service immediately terminate all collaboration with USAID and reassess any remaining cooperation agreements with foreign entities engaged in political influence operations;

    15. Stresses that financial influence exerted by foreign governments over EU Member States’ elections and media constitutes an act of hybrid warfare against European sovereignty;

    16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the President of the Commission, the relevant members of the Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Secretary General of NATO, the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International Women’s Day 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    International Women’s Day 2025

    Empowered Women Empower the World

    Posted On: 06 MAR 2025 9:39AM by PIB Delhi

    Introduction

    International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world on 8th March. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements across national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political boundaries. The theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” This year’s theme calls for action to unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and an inclusive future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.

    Further, the year 2025 is a pivotal moment as it marks the 30thanniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document is the most progressive and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide, transforming the women’s rights agenda in terms of legal protection, access to services, youth engagement, and change in social norms, stereotypes, and ideas stuck in the past.

    In India, the government has been actively working towards women’s empowerment and gender equality through various policies, schemes, and legislative measures. The country is witnessing a transition from women’s development to women-led development, ensuring equal participation in national progress. Women are playing a crucial role in shaping India’s socio-economic landscape, breaking barriers in education, health, digital inclusion, and leadership roles.

    On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged women across India to share their inspiring life journeys on the NaMo App Open Forum ahead of International Women’s Day. He praised the remarkable stories already submitted, highlighting the resilience and achievements of women from different walks of life. As a special initiative, he announced that selected women would take over his social media accounts on March 8 to amplify their voices and experiences. This initiative aims to celebrate women’s contributions and inspire others by showcasing their journey of empowerment, perseverance, and success.

    Constitutional and Legal Framework

    The Indian Constitution guarantees gender equality through provisions in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, and Directive Principles of State Policy. Article 14 ensures equality before the law, while Article 15 prohibits discrimination based on sex. Article 51(a)(e) encourages citizens to renounce practices derogatory to women’s dignity. The Directive Principles, particularly Articles 39 and 42, emphasize equal livelihood opportunities, equal pay, and maternity relief.

    India is a signatory to international treaties such as:

    • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
    • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, 1966)
    • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, 1979)
    • Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995)
    • United Nations Convention Against Corruption (2003)
    • Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development

     

    Government Schemes for Women’s Upliftment

    1. Education

    Education is the key to women’s empowerment and economic independence. India has undertaken several initiatives to ensure that girls have equal access to quality education from primary schooling to higher education. Gender parity in education has improved significantly, with female enrolment surpassing male enrolment in recent years.

    • Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 ensures schools are within reach for all children.
    • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): Focuses on improving the child sex ratio and promoting girls’ education.
    • Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan: Supports school infrastructure and girl-friendly facilities.
    • National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 prioritizes gender equity and inclusion in education.
    • Eklavya Model Residential Schools: Promote quality education for tribal girls
    • Female Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) has overtaken Male GER since 2017-18.
    • Female enrolment in higher education: 2.07 crore (2021-22), which is nearly 50% of the total number 4.33 crore.
    • The female to 100 male faculty ratio has also improved to 77 in 2021-22 from 63 in 2014-15.
    • Women in STEM: 42.57% (41.9 lakh) of total STEM enrolment.
    • STEM Initiatives:
      • Vigyan Jyoti (2020) promotes STEM education for girls in underrepresented areas.
    • Overseas Fellowship Scheme supports women scientists in global research opportunities.
    • National Digital Library, SWAYAM, and SWAYAM PRABHA ensure access to online learning.
    • Over 10 lakh girl students benefitted under various scholarships for STEM fields.
    • Skill Development Initiatives:
      • Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Women Industrial Training Institutes provide vocational and technical training to women.
      • Women Technology Parks (WTPs) serve as hubs for training and capacity building.

     

    2. Health and Nutrition

    Access to healthcare services is crucial for improving the well-being of women and reducing gender-based health disparities. The government has introduced several policies to ensure maternal and child health, nutrition, and medical support for women across all sections of society.

    • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Provides cash incentives to pregnant and lactating mothers, with ₹17,362 crore disbursed to 3.81 crore women, as of January 2025.
    • Improved Maternal Health:
      • Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) reduced from 130 (2014-16) to 97 (2018-20) per lakh live births.
      • Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) decreased from 43 (2015) to 32 (2020).
      • Life expectancy for women increased to 71.4 years (2016-20), expected to reach 74.7 years by 2031-36.
    • Nutrition and Sanitation:
      • Jal Jeevan Mission provided potable tap water to 15.4 crore households, reducing health risks.
      • Swachh Bharat Mission led to the construction of 11.8 crore toilets, improving sanitation and hygiene.
      • Poshan Abhiyaan: Strengthens maternal and child nutrition programs
      • Over 10.3 crore clean cooking gas connections distributed under the Ujjwala Yojana.

     

    3. Economic Empowerment and Financial Inclusion

    Women’s participation in the workforce is a key driver of economic growth. The government has launched multiple initiatives to promote financial independence, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities for women.

    • Women’s participation in major household decisions: Increased from 84% (2015) to 88.7% (2020).
    • Financial Inclusion:
      • PM Jan Dhan Yojana: Over 30.46 crore accounts (55% belonging to women) opened.
      • Stand-Up India Scheme: 84% of loans under ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore sanctioned to women entrepreneurs.
      • MUDRA Scheme: 69% of microloans given to women-led enterprises.
    • Self-Help Groups under NRLM: 10 crore (100 million) women connected to 9 million SHGs.
    • Bank Sakhis Model: 6,094 women banking correspondents processed transactions worth $40 million in 2020.
    • Employment and Leadership:
      • Women in Armed Forces: Entry into NDA, combat roles, and Sainik Schools.
      • Civil Aviation: India has over 15% women pilots, higher than the global average of 5%.
      • Working Women’s Hostels (Sakhi Niwas): 523 hostels benefiting 26,306 women.
    • Women Entrepreneurs in Startups: 10% of funds in the Small Industries Development Bank of India reserved for women-led startups

     

    4. Digital and Technological Empowerment

    In the digital era, access to technology and digital literacy are crucial for women’s socio-economic progress. The government has been proactive in ensuring women are part of the digital revolution through various initiatives.

    • Digital India Initiatives:
      • PMGDISHA (Prime Minister’s Digital Saksharta Abhiyan): 60 million rural citizens trained in digital literacy.
      • Common Service Centres (CSCs): 67,000 women entrepreneurs running digital service centers.
      • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Bridging healthcare accessibility through digital solutions.
      • SANKALP Hubs for Women Empowerment: Functioning in 742 districts across 35 States/UTs
    • Financial Technology and Inclusion:
      • Digital banking and Aadhaar-linked services ensure financial security for women.
      • Government e-marketplaces encourage female entrepreneurship and online businesses.

     

    5. Safety and Protection

    Ensuring women’s safety is a top priority for the Indian government. Several legislative measures, dedicated funds, and fast-track courts have been established to curb crimes against women and provide legal and institutional support.

    • Key Legal Frameworks:
      • Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018: Enhanced penalties for crimes against women.
      • Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
      • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
      • POCSO Act, 2012: Strengthened laws against child abuse.
      • Ban on Triple Talaq (2019): Criminalizing instant divorce practices.
      • Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: Penalizes dowry-related offenses.
      • Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: Protects minors from forced marriages.
    • Nirbhaya Fund Projects (₹11,298 crore allocated):
      • One Stop Centres (OSCs): 802 centers functional, assisting over 1 million women.
      • Emergency Response Support System (ERSS – 112): 38.34 crore calls handled.
      • Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): 750 operational courts, 408 exclusively for POCSO cases.
      • Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) and cyber forensic labs for digital safety.
      • Safe City Projects: Implemented in 8 cities to enhance women’s safety.
      • 14,658 Women Help Desks in Police Stations, 13,743 headed by women.
    • Institutional and Legislative Reforms
      • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Strengthens provisions for gender justice.
      • Marital rape (for wives under 18) criminalized.
      • Enhanced punishment for sexual offenses and trafficking.
      • Witness protection and digital evidence admissibility improved.
      • Women’s representation in CAPFs: 33% reservation in select forces.
      • Nari Adalat: Piloted in 50 Gram Panchayats each in Assam and J&K, now expanding.

     

    Conclusion

    India has made remarkable progress in women’s empowerment through comprehensive policies, targeted schemes, and legal frameworks. From economic participation to safety, digital inclusion to education, the government’s initiatives have led to significant improvements in women’s lives. On this International Women’s Day, it is crucial to reaffirm the commitment to building an inclusive, gender-equal society where women play a central role in shaping the nation’s future. Sustained efforts in policy-making, community engagement, and digital inclusion will ensure that women continue to drive India’s growth story in the years to come.

    References

    Ministry of Women and Child Development

    https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/pm-encourages-women-to-share-their-inspiring-life-journeys/

    https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background

    https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day

    Click here to see PDF.

    *****

    Santosh Kumar | Ritu Kataria | Rishita Aggarwal

    (Release ID: 2108690) Visitor Counter : 141

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The EBA consults on new rules related to the anti- money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism package

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a public consultation on four draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) that will be part of the EBA’s response to the European Commission’s Call for Advice.  These technical standards will be central to the EU’s new AML/CFT regime and will shape how institutions and supervisors will comply with their AML/CFT obligations under the new AML/CFT package. The consultation runs until 6 June 2025.

    The proposed RTSs focus on the following aspects for which the EBA is providing its advice:

    • he way the new EU Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) will decide which institutions will be subject to the direct supervision. The EBA is proposing that AMLA first determines which institutions are eligible for direct supervision taking into account their cross-border activities. In a second step, AMLA would consider the outcomes of the harmonised money-laundering/terrorist financing (ML/TF) risk assessment methodology.
    • the determination of the ML/TF risk associated with each institution. The EBA is proposing to put in place a harmonised methodology that all national supervisors will apply when assessing an institution’s inherent risks, the quality of controls and the residual risks that remain after the controls have been applied. The proposed approach will ensure that supervisors’ entity-level risk assessments are consistent with comparable outcomes across Member States. It would also reduce regulatory burden for cross-border institutions, especially because different supervisors’ information requests would be aligned.
    • the extent and quality of information institutions will have to obtain as part of the customer due diligence process under the new AML/CFT regime. To achieve effective outcomes, and to limit the cost of compliance, the EBA is proposing a framework within which institutions can choose the most appropriate approach to the extent that it is in compliance with the new AML Regulation. For example, the EBA lists the types of documents and sources of information that institutions should consult, rather than specify the documents and sources themselves.
    • on indicators  and criteria to be taken into account when setting the level of pecuniary sanctions or taking administrative measures including developing a methodology on how to impose  periodic penalty payments. The aim is to ensure that AML/CFT breaches are assessed in the same way by all supervisors across the EU and that the enforcement action is proportionate, dissuasive and effective.

    The European Commission has asked the EBA to prepare the above-mentioned technical standards to support the rapid and effective start of AMLA operations. The EBA will submit its response with the above-mentioned technical standards to the European Commission on 31 October 2025.

    Consultation process

    Comments to the consultation paper can be sent by clicking on the “send your comments” on the EBA’s consultation page. The deadline for the submission of comments is 6 June 2025. The EBA will consider the feedback received to this consultation when finalising the response to the European Commission’s Call for advice.

    All contributions received will be published following the end of the consultation, unless requested otherwise.

    The EBA will hold a virtual public hearing on the consultation paper on 10 April 2025 from 14:00 CET. The EBA invites interested stakeholders to register using this link by 8 April 2025 at 16:00 CET. The dial-in details will be communicated to those who have registered for the meeting.

    Legal basis and background

    The EBA’s work on these RTS stems from the European Commission’s Call for Advice of 12 March 2024. The latter relates to the preparation of four regulatory mandates under Article 40(2) of Directive (EU) 2024/1640 (AMLD6), Article 12(7) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1620 (AMLAR), Article 28(1) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 (AMLR) and Article 53(10) of AMLD6.

    These mandates are part of the new AML/CFT package that was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 19 June 2024. The package, which consists of four legal texts, will transform how the fight of money laundering and terrorist financing is organised in the EU. It creates a new agency that will directly supervise several financial institutions in the EU, harmonises the approaches of national AML/CFT supervisors and financial intelligence units within the EU and introduces for the first time a Single AML/CFT Rulebook.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Absconded corrections prisoner – Alice Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for public assistance to locate a 28-year-old man who absconded from NT Corrections in Alice Springs today.

    Around 1:40pm, police received reports that the man absconded from his work placement at the Olive Pink Botanical Gardens in Alice Springs around 11:45am.

    He was last seen wearing a yellow and blue shirt and green coloured pants.

    Alice Springs Police are actively looking for him and he is urged to return himself into custody as soon as possible.

    Police do not believe he is a risk to the public but urge not to approach him. Anyone with information in relation to his whereabouts please contact Police on 131 444, quoting reference number P25063037. You can make anonymous reports via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious assault at Seaton

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are at the scene of a serious assault at Seaton.

    About 4.14pm today (Thursday 6 March), police and emergency services were called to a house in Minns Street East after reports of a fight between two men known to each other.

    One of the men suffered serious injuries and is being treated by paramedics.

    The other man is assisting police with their enquiries.

    Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Roads reopen after serious crash in Adelaide

    Source: South Australia Police

    Roads have been reopened after a crash in Adelaide.

    About 12pm today (Thursday 6 March), police and emergency services were called to Halifax Street near the intersection of Surflen Street after a crash between a cyclist and a truck.

    The cyclist was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

    Major Crash officers attended the scene and are investigating the collision.

    Road closures were in place for several hours but have since reopened.

    Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Firearm offences – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has revoked two NT firearms licences from a 70-year-old man after he attempted to send a prohibited firearm in the mail in March 2024.

    A referral was made to the Northern Territory Police Firearms Audit and Enforcement Unit after Western Australia Police intercepted a package on 6 March 2024 containing a prohibited firearm concealed within a videocassette recorder.

    Investigations were conducted which identified the sender as a 70-year-old man intending to supply the firearm to a WA firearms licence holder.

    NT Police served the man a Notice to Appear in court for a number of firearm offences including:

    • Send Firearm by Mail

    • Posses Firearm with Altered ID Marks

    • Fail to Dispose of Firearm

    The man appeared in court on 26 February 2025 where he was fined and has subsequently had his NT firearms licences revoked for 10 years, resulting in the seizure of his 200 registered firearms.

    Acting Senior Sergeant Aaron Chapman said “NT Police remain steadfast in their commitment to public safety and will continue to investigate all reported firearm related offences. We want to remind the community that firearm ownership is a privilege granted to responsible licence holders, not a right.

    “Any failure to comply with licence conditions or the provisions of the Firearms Act 1997 will be thoroughly investigated.”

    Anyone with information on illegal or misuse of firearms is encouraged to report it on 131 444. You can also report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au

    MIL OSI News –