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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/ALGERIA – Appointment of bishop of Constantine

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 11 July 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Michel Guillaud, of the clergy of Lyon, until now diocesan administrator of the diocese of Constantine, Algeria. as bishop of the same see.Bishop Michel Guillaud was born on 24 June 1961 in Villeurbanne, France. After studying at the University Seminary of Lyon and obtaining a licentiate in theology, he was awarded a licentiate in Islamology from the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), Rome.He was ordained a priest on 1 July 1990 for the archdiocese of Lyon.He has held the following offices: lecturer in Islamology at the Catholic Faculty of Lyon; chaplain of students of the Catholic University of Lyon; parish priest in Batna (2006-2014), Constantine (2014-2016), Skikda (2016 to the present) and vicar general of the diocese of Constantine (2020-2024); secretary general of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA) (2015-2025); and since 2024, diocesan administrator of the diocese of Constantine. (Agenzia Fides, 11/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/ALGERIA – Appointment of bishop of Constantine

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 11 July 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Michel Guillaud, of the clergy of Lyon, until now diocesan administrator of the diocese of Constantine, Algeria. as bishop of the same see.Bishop Michel Guillaud was born on 24 June 1961 in Villeurbanne, France. After studying at the University Seminary of Lyon and obtaining a licentiate in theology, he was awarded a licentiate in Islamology from the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), Rome.He was ordained a priest on 1 July 1990 for the archdiocese of Lyon.He has held the following offices: lecturer in Islamology at the Catholic Faculty of Lyon; chaplain of students of the Catholic University of Lyon; parish priest in Batna (2006-2014), Constantine (2014-2016), Skikda (2016 to the present) and vicar general of the diocese of Constantine (2020-2024); secretary general of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA) (2015-2025); and since 2024, diocesan administrator of the diocese of Constantine. (Agenzia Fides, 11/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – Three Bishops of war-torn regions address the faithful in a joint pastoral letter: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    diocese of Myitkyina

    Myitkyina (Agenzia Fides) – In the face of terrible events such as the bloody civil war and the earthquake that devastated central Myanmar, the three bishops of the Burmese dioceses of Myitkyina, Banmaw, and Lashio (in north-central Myanmar) address the faithful in a joint pastoral letter: “The Lord Jesus told us: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me!’ (John 14:1). And further: ‘Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me (Mt 16:24).” The pastoral letter, sent to Fides, is signed by the three bishops: Msgr. John Mung-ngawn La Sam, M.F., of the diocese of Myitkyina; Msgr. Raymond Sumlut Gam, of the Diocese of Banmaw; and Msgr. Lucas Dau Ze Jeimphaung, SDB, of the Diocese of Lashio, all three often forced to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere due to insecurity and fighting in their territories.”Over the past four years,” the bishops lament, “the fighting has led to the destruction of lives, families, farms, and land, as well as the displacement of thousands of people to refugee camps.” People are “worried about their safety and their children’s education.” The wounds of war were aggravated by the powerful earthquake that “once again shook central Myanmar, collapsing houses, and injuring and killing many people.”In this situation of uncertainty and distress, the bishops wish to assist the faithful and write: “No matter how difficult our situation may be, if we pray to God every day with faith and love, we will be able to endure all difficulties and become bearers of the Cross with Jesus Christ, receiving his grace of consolation and encouragement.”In this context, the bishops recall the sufferings and tribulations of many saints who, in their experience, accepted suffering out of love for Christ and lived the spirit described by St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians, which the bishops cite and apply today to the Burmese people: “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9).The bishops remind the faithful that other peoples of the world are also experiencing the same situation of extreme hardship, which is why they should feel united in this trial: “Many countries in the world are suffering from natural disasters, terrorism, wars, death, illness, and infirmity,” and everyone is called to live this situation in faith and not to lose hope and charity. “Therefore, dear faithful, let us, without becoming discouraged, pray for a lasting peace and implore peace from God with all our heart, mind, and strength,” the three bishops conclude. “Let us pray, encourage, console, and help one another in this Holy Year, which, despite everything, is full of hope.” “May God bless you with physical, mental, and spiritual health and grant you His grace and the strength of the Holy Spirit.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 11/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – Three Bishops of war-torn regions address the faithful in a joint pastoral letter: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    diocese of Myitkyina

    Myitkyina (Agenzia Fides) – In the face of terrible events such as the bloody civil war and the earthquake that devastated central Myanmar, the three bishops of the Burmese dioceses of Myitkyina, Banmaw, and Lashio (in north-central Myanmar) address the faithful in a joint pastoral letter: “The Lord Jesus told us: ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me!’ (John 14:1). And further: ‘Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me (Mt 16:24).” The pastoral letter, sent to Fides, is signed by the three bishops: Msgr. John Mung-ngawn La Sam, M.F., of the diocese of Myitkyina; Msgr. Raymond Sumlut Gam, of the Diocese of Banmaw; and Msgr. Lucas Dau Ze Jeimphaung, SDB, of the Diocese of Lashio, all three often forced to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere due to insecurity and fighting in their territories.”Over the past four years,” the bishops lament, “the fighting has led to the destruction of lives, families, farms, and land, as well as the displacement of thousands of people to refugee camps.” People are “worried about their safety and their children’s education.” The wounds of war were aggravated by the powerful earthquake that “once again shook central Myanmar, collapsing houses, and injuring and killing many people.”In this situation of uncertainty and distress, the bishops wish to assist the faithful and write: “No matter how difficult our situation may be, if we pray to God every day with faith and love, we will be able to endure all difficulties and become bearers of the Cross with Jesus Christ, receiving his grace of consolation and encouragement.”In this context, the bishops recall the sufferings and tribulations of many saints who, in their experience, accepted suffering out of love for Christ and lived the spirit described by St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians, which the bishops cite and apply today to the Burmese people: “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9).The bishops remind the faithful that other peoples of the world are also experiencing the same situation of extreme hardship, which is why they should feel united in this trial: “Many countries in the world are suffering from natural disasters, terrorism, wars, death, illness, and infirmity,” and everyone is called to live this situation in faith and not to lose hope and charity. “Therefore, dear faithful, let us, without becoming discouraged, pray for a lasting peace and implore peace from God with all our heart, mind, and strength,” the three bishops conclude. “Let us pray, encourage, console, and help one another in this Holy Year, which, despite everything, is full of hope.” “May God bless you with physical, mental, and spiritual health and grant you His grace and the strength of the Holy Spirit.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 11/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Letting Agent fined for “recklessly” putting tenants at risk

    Source: City of Derby

    A city letting agent has received a significant fine for failing to meet health and safety standards and endangering vulnerable tenants.

    Steadwall Properties Limited of Normanton Road was fined £14,000 after pleading guilty to renting out accommodation deemed unsafe by Derby City Council.

    The property on Osmaston Road, located above a pharmacy, had been made the subject of a Prohibition Order in August 2023.

    This was in response to an inspection by the Council’s Environmental Health team, which uncovered significant safety hazards, including a compromised flat roof, and risks of structural collapse.

    The property had been converted into two flats, but the building work had not been certified. Tenants living there at the time were rehoused by Derby Homes.

    The Prohibition Order, issued under the Housing Act 2004, meant no one could live there until work had been done to make the flats safe.

    A routine check of the properties in August 2024 and a subsequent criminal investigation found that the flats had been rented out to new tenants in contravention of the Prohibition Order, and that serious safety hazards remained in the property. The letting agents had been receiving rent payments for eight months.

    At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on 7 July 2025, Steadwall Properties Limited of Normanton Road Derby pleaded guilty to the offence of knowingly permitting occupation of a prohibited property contrary to section 32 of The Housing Act 2004,

    The company was fined £21,000, reduced to £14,000 because of an early guilty plea, and ordered to pay £1750 costs.

    In summing up the case, the Magistrates commented that Steadwall Properties had recklessly permitted occupation and placed vulnerable tenants at risk of considerable harm.

    Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services said:

    We’re committed to ensuring everyone in Derby has a safe place to call home.

    While most private landlords are responsible and provide good quality housing, our dedicated team works tirelessly to identify and pursue those, whether they are landlords or letting agents, who disregard the health and safety of their tenants.

    We simply won’t tolerate substandard accommodation and will continue to use every tool at our disposal – from prosecution to civil penalty notices and rent repayment orders – to hold them accountable.

    I would encourage anyone with concerns about their rented property or their landlord to report this to our team.

    Tenants can contact the Housing Standards team via the Derby City Council website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: 940 thousand foreign tourists visited Russia using an electronic visa

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    “Russia continues to demonstrate growth in popularity among foreign tourists, which is due to the creation of tourism infrastructure and the introduction of simplified entry mechanisms,” said Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, commenting on the bill adopted by the State Duma, expanding the possibilities of a single electronic visa for entry into Russia.

    According to the document, the visa validity period has been increased from 60 to 120 days from the date of issue, and the permitted period of stay for foreign citizens in the country has increased from 16 to 30 days.

    The Deputy Prime Minister noted that extending the validity of the electronic visa and increasing the permitted period of stay in Russia is an important step towards foreign tourists.

    “Our country is becoming increasingly popular with guests from abroad. Last year, the country was visited by more than 5 million foreign tourists, which is 30% more than the previous year. We see that foreign guests are increasingly using simplified entry mechanisms – applying for electronic visas. Over the first five months of 2025, more than 230 thousand foreign tourists entered the country using it, and in total, 940 thousand people used it during the period of operation of the mechanism. The new measures will make Russia even more accessible to international travelers and strengthen the country’s position in the global tourism market,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.

    Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development, added: “The Ministry of Economic Development is systematically working to increase the attractiveness of Russia for foreign tourists. An electronic visa is one of the important mechanisms for simplified entry for tourists. The next step, which is currently being considered, is the possibility of its multiple use.”

    Let us recall that the platform for issuing unified electronic visas was launched on August 1, 2023 for citizens of 64 countries.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: To the staff of the magazine “Expert”.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On July 11, 2025, the magazine will turn 30 years old.

    Dear friends!

    Congratulations on your 30th birthday.

    In 1995, the first issue of your publication was published, which covered the formation of a market economy, technology, and key trends in business.

    All these years, Expert has always been at the center of news, helping to navigate the information flow, forming a discussion, responding to events and changes in the economy, finance, industry, science, giving them a competent assessment. The magazine is distinguished by its original author’s style, presents the opinions of the expert community. It is important that you master new formats, use various genres, maintain high quality standards. This has allowed you not only to win the respect of professionals, but also to attract the interest of readers who find interesting and useful materials on the pages.

    Thanks to a unique team of journalists, editors, reviewers, talented people who are passionate about their work, Expert continues to be one of the most sought-after specialized publications.

    I wish you new successes, creative successes, well-being and prosperity.

    M. Mishustin

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • India’s Rise As A Global Power Must Be Accompanied By The Rise Of Its Intellectual And Cultural Gravitas: Vice-President

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lign=”center”>The Strength Of A Nation Lies In The Originality Of Its Thought And The Timelessness Of Its Values, urges VP
    India Is A Civilizational Continuum—A Flowing River Of Consciousness, Inquiry, And Learning, says VP
    Indigenous Insights Were Dismissed As Relics Of The Primitive Past; Selective Remembrance Continued Even After Independence, Highlights VP
    Western Constructs Were Paraded As Universal Truths. There Was An Architecture Of Erasure And Decimation, says VP
    Colonization Produced Clerks And Yeomen Instead of Thinkers; Grades Replaced Critical Thinking, highlights VP
    A Genuine Indian Knowledge System Ecosystem Must Honour Both Text And Lived Experience, Emphasises VP
    Vice-President Addresses The Inaugural Annual Conference On The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) In New Delhi

    The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today said, “India’s rise as a global power must be accompanied by the rise of its intellectual and cultural gravitas. This is very significant as the rise without this is not lasting, and the rise without this is not in harmony with our traditions. The strength of a nation lies in the originality of its thought, the timelessness of its values, and the resilience of its intellectual traditions. That is the kind of soft power that endures, and soft power is potent in the world we live in”, he said.

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943205424314093944

     

    Reaffirming India’s identity beyond the confines of post-colonial constructs, the Vice-President observed, “India is not just a political construct formed in the mid-20th century. It is a civilizational continuum—a flowing river of consciousness, inquiry, and learning that has endured.”

    Critiquing the historical sidelining of indigenous wisdom, he said, “While indigenous insights were dismissed as relics of the primitive past, it was not an error of interpretation. It was an architecture of erasure, destruction, and decimation. What is more tragic is that the selective remembrance continued even after independence. Western constructs were paraded as universal truths. To put it more bluntly, untruth was camouflaged as truth.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943197937783443838

    “What should have been our fundamental priority was not even on the radar. How can you not be cognizant of your core values?” he questioned.

     

    Reflecting on the historical ruptures in India’s intellectual journey, the Vice-President remarked, “The Islamic invasion of India caused the first interlude in the glorious journey of Bharatiya Vidya Parampara (भारतीय विद्या परंपरा). Instead of embrace and assimilation, there was contempt and destruction. The British colonization brought forth the second interlude, when the Indian Knowledge System was stunted, stymied, and subverted. Centers of learning changed their motives. The compass was moderated. The North Star was changed. From bearing Sages and Savants, it started producing clerks and yeomen. The needs of the East India Company to have brown babus replaced the need of the nation to have thinkers.”

     

    “We stopped thinking, contemplating, writing, and philosophizing. We started cramming, regurgitating, and swallowing. Grades, unfortunately, replaced critical thinking. The great Bharatiya Vidya Parampara (भारतीय विद्या परंपरा) and its allied institutions were systematically drained, destroyed, and decimated.”, he mentioned.

     

    Addressing the inaugural Annual Conference on the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in New Delhi as the Chief Guest today, Shri Dhankhar said, “Long before the Universities of Europe came into being, Bharat’s universities had already established themselves as thriving centers of learning. Our ancient land was home to luminous centres of intellectual life—Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Vallabhi, and Odantapuri. These were the towering citadels of knowledge. Their libraries were vast oceans of wisdom, housing tens of thousands of manuscripts.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943199467899084921

    He added, “These were global universities, where seekers came from lands near and far, such as Korea, China, Tibet, and Persia. These were the spaces where the intellect of the world embraced the spirit of Bharat.”

     

    Calling for a more holistic understanding of knowledge, the Vice-President said, “Knowledge resides beyond manuscripts. It lives in communities, in embodied practices, in the intergenerational transmission of wisdom.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943202799141146817

     

    He emphasised that, “A genuine Indian Knowledge Systems research ecosystem must honour both the written word and the lived experience—recognizing that insight emerges as much from context as it does from text.”

    Calling for focused action to strengthen Indian Knowledge Systems, the Vice-President remarked, “Let us therefore turn our attention to tangible action because that is the need of the hour. The creation of digitized repositories of classical Indian texts is an urgent priority covering all classical languages such as Sanskrit, Tamil, Pali, and Prakrit, to name just a few.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943222130579247548

     

    He added, “These repositories should be made widely accessible, enabling scholars in India and researchers around the world to engage meaningfully with these sources. Equally essential is the development of training programs that empower young scholars with robust methodological tools, blending philosophy, computational analysis, ethnography, and comparative inquiry to deepen their engagement with the Indian knowledge system.”

     

     

    Quoting renowned scholar Max Müller, the Vice-President said, “If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions of some of them which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant—I should point to India.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943192673076285954

     

    “Friends, it was nothing but the articulation of eternal truth,” the Vice-President said.

     

    Touching upon the dynamic relationship between tradition and innovation, the Vice-President stated, “The wisdom of the past does not obstruct innovation—rather it inspires it. The metaphysical can speak to the material. Spiritual insight can coexist with scientific precision, but then you have to know what spiritual insight is.”

     

    He continued, “The Rigveda’s hymns to the cosmos can find new relevance in the age of astrophysics. The Charaka Samhita can be read alongside global debates on public health ethics.”

     

    “As we navigate a fractured world, we are stunned by global conflagration. So we are faced with a fractured world. Knowledge systems that have long reflected on the interplay between mind and matter, the individual and the cosmos, duty and consequence, become relevant and vital to shaping thoughtful, enduring responses.”, he concluded.

     

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India, Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prof. M. S. Chaitra, Director- IKSHA, Akhil Bharatiye Toli Sadasya, Prajna Pravah, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

  • India’s Rise As A Global Power Must Be Accompanied By The Rise Of Its Intellectual And Cultural Gravitas: Vice-President

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lign=”center”>The Strength Of A Nation Lies In The Originality Of Its Thought And The Timelessness Of Its Values, urges VP
    India Is A Civilizational Continuum—A Flowing River Of Consciousness, Inquiry, And Learning, says VP
    Indigenous Insights Were Dismissed As Relics Of The Primitive Past; Selective Remembrance Continued Even After Independence, Highlights VP
    Western Constructs Were Paraded As Universal Truths. There Was An Architecture Of Erasure And Decimation, says VP
    Colonization Produced Clerks And Yeomen Instead of Thinkers; Grades Replaced Critical Thinking, highlights VP
    A Genuine Indian Knowledge System Ecosystem Must Honour Both Text And Lived Experience, Emphasises VP
    Vice-President Addresses The Inaugural Annual Conference On The Indian Knowledge System (IKS) In New Delhi

    The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, today said, “India’s rise as a global power must be accompanied by the rise of its intellectual and cultural gravitas. This is very significant as the rise without this is not lasting, and the rise without this is not in harmony with our traditions. The strength of a nation lies in the originality of its thought, the timelessness of its values, and the resilience of its intellectual traditions. That is the kind of soft power that endures, and soft power is potent in the world we live in”, he said.

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943205424314093944

     

    Reaffirming India’s identity beyond the confines of post-colonial constructs, the Vice-President observed, “India is not just a political construct formed in the mid-20th century. It is a civilizational continuum—a flowing river of consciousness, inquiry, and learning that has endured.”

    Critiquing the historical sidelining of indigenous wisdom, he said, “While indigenous insights were dismissed as relics of the primitive past, it was not an error of interpretation. It was an architecture of erasure, destruction, and decimation. What is more tragic is that the selective remembrance continued even after independence. Western constructs were paraded as universal truths. To put it more bluntly, untruth was camouflaged as truth.”

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943197937783443838

    “What should have been our fundamental priority was not even on the radar. How can you not be cognizant of your core values?” he questioned.

     

    Reflecting on the historical ruptures in India’s intellectual journey, the Vice-President remarked, “The Islamic invasion of India caused the first interlude in the glorious journey of Bharatiya Vidya Parampara (भारतीय विद्या परंपरा). Instead of embrace and assimilation, there was contempt and destruction. The British colonization brought forth the second interlude, when the Indian Knowledge System was stunted, stymied, and subverted. Centers of learning changed their motives. The compass was moderated. The North Star was changed. From bearing Sages and Savants, it started producing clerks and yeomen. The needs of the East India Company to have brown babus replaced the need of the nation to have thinkers.”

     

    “We stopped thinking, contemplating, writing, and philosophizing. We started cramming, regurgitating, and swallowing. Grades, unfortunately, replaced critical thinking. The great Bharatiya Vidya Parampara (भारतीय विद्या परंपरा) and its allied institutions were systematically drained, destroyed, and decimated.”, he mentioned.

     

    Addressing the inaugural Annual Conference on the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) in New Delhi as the Chief Guest today, Shri Dhankhar said, “Long before the Universities of Europe came into being, Bharat’s universities had already established themselves as thriving centers of learning. Our ancient land was home to luminous centres of intellectual life—Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Vallabhi, and Odantapuri. These were the towering citadels of knowledge. Their libraries were vast oceans of wisdom, housing tens of thousands of manuscripts.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943199467899084921

    He added, “These were global universities, where seekers came from lands near and far, such as Korea, China, Tibet, and Persia. These were the spaces where the intellect of the world embraced the spirit of Bharat.”

     

    Calling for a more holistic understanding of knowledge, the Vice-President said, “Knowledge resides beyond manuscripts. It lives in communities, in embodied practices, in the intergenerational transmission of wisdom.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943202799141146817

     

    He emphasised that, “A genuine Indian Knowledge Systems research ecosystem must honour both the written word and the lived experience—recognizing that insight emerges as much from context as it does from text.”

    Calling for focused action to strengthen Indian Knowledge Systems, the Vice-President remarked, “Let us therefore turn our attention to tangible action because that is the need of the hour. The creation of digitized repositories of classical Indian texts is an urgent priority covering all classical languages such as Sanskrit, Tamil, Pali, and Prakrit, to name just a few.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943222130579247548

     

    He added, “These repositories should be made widely accessible, enabling scholars in India and researchers around the world to engage meaningfully with these sources. Equally essential is the development of training programs that empower young scholars with robust methodological tools, blending philosophy, computational analysis, ethnography, and comparative inquiry to deepen their engagement with the Indian knowledge system.”

     

     

    Quoting renowned scholar Max Müller, the Vice-President said, “If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions of some of them which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant—I should point to India.”

     

    https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1943192673076285954

     

    “Friends, it was nothing but the articulation of eternal truth,” the Vice-President said.

     

    Touching upon the dynamic relationship between tradition and innovation, the Vice-President stated, “The wisdom of the past does not obstruct innovation—rather it inspires it. The metaphysical can speak to the material. Spiritual insight can coexist with scientific precision, but then you have to know what spiritual insight is.”

     

    He continued, “The Rigveda’s hymns to the cosmos can find new relevance in the age of astrophysics. The Charaka Samhita can be read alongside global debates on public health ethics.”

     

    “As we navigate a fractured world, we are stunned by global conflagration. So we are faced with a fractured world. Knowledge systems that have long reflected on the interplay between mind and matter, the individual and the cosmos, duty and consequence, become relevant and vital to shaping thoughtful, enduring responses.”, he concluded.

     

    Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Govt. of India, Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Prof. M. S. Chaitra, Director- IKSHA, Akhil Bharatiye Toli Sadasya, Prajna Pravah, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Voting in Public Elections Across Selected Asian Countries

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The following is a guest post by Foreign Law Specialist Sayuri Umeda, and the following foreign law interns who work with Sayuri: Raksmei Dara, Inseol Hong, Nguyet Le, and Panicha (Yuri) Rattanaboonsen.

    As lawyers from Japan, Cambodia, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand, we were curious about the different rules and regulations for voting in public elections for each of the countries we represent, and decided to compare the voting methods of these countries. To our surprise, we found that each country had a different voting method.

    The following three questions were asked:

    1. What is the voting age;
    2. What is the right of convicted criminals to vote, and
    3. What is the method of voting (national elections only, excluding proportional representation elections if that is not the only electoral system)?

    Question 1 – What is the voting age in the countries above?

    All countries have a voting age of 18. Voters must be 18 years of age or older on election day.

    Question 2 – Do convicted criminals have the right to vote?

    In all countries, those who are imprisoned are denied the right to vote.

    In South Korea, such restrictions are limited to those who are serving sentences of one year or more. Those awaiting execution of a sentence of one year or more are also ineligible to vote. (Public Official Election Act, infra, art. 18) In Japan and Korea, individuals convicted of certain electoral and corruption offenses are barred from voting for several years after the completion of their sentence. (Korea: id.; Japan, Public Offices Election Act, infra, art. 11.) In Thailand, those who are detained by legal order and those who have been deprived of the right to vote, with or without a final sentence, cannot vote. (Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives, infra, sec. 32.)

    Even though outside the scope of the question, we were surprised to learn that in Thailand, the constitution does not give monks, novices, or clergy the right to vote. (Constitution, B.E. 2560, sec. 96.)

    Question 3 – What is the method of voting in each country?

    • Cambodia
      • In the Cambodian national election, voters do not vote for an individual candidate, but for a party. (Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly, art. 5.) The long-ruling Cambodian People’s Party has won landslide victories in elections since the 2003 general election. A voter places a single tick mark inside one of the square boxes next to their chosen political party on the ballot paper. (Id. art. 105.) Before exiting the ballot casting room, the voter must dip a finger in indelible purple ink and mark their name on the voter’s list to confirm that they have voted.
    • Japan
      • Voters must write the name of one candidate on the ballot. (Public Offices Election Act, Act No. 100 of 1950, as amended, art. 46, para. 1.) Some complain that writing the names of candidates is not easy for people with disabilities or injuries. Marking the name of the candidate of choice would be easier and reduce mistakes. However, this is not permitted in national elections. The Kobe Newspaper explains that when using the marking system, the names of all candidates must be written on the ballot, so the ballots cannot be printed until the candidates have been decided, which takes time to prepare.
    • South Korea
      • The election is conducted by marking a ballot. (Public Official Election Act, Act No. 20902, as amended April 1, 2025, art. 146, para. 1.) Marking is done by using a stamp that is placed in a box next to the candidate chosen by the voter. The stamps are prepared by the Election Commission. This stamp has an interesting history. In the 1940s and 1950s, voters had to bring objects to stamp their ballots, such as bullet casings or small bamboo sticks. Today, the stamp imprints “ト”. This character shape has an advantage that the marked candidate cannot be mistaken when an imprint is smeared. The ballot paper must be folded before being put in the box.
    • Thailand
      • Voting is done by marking a cross in the box beside the candidate’s number on the ballot paper. In cases where the eligible voters wish to vote for none of the candidates, they shall mark a cross in the checkbox for “not to vote for any candidate”. (Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives B.E. 2561 (2018), § 91.) Please see the examples of acceptable and unacceptable crosses in the image at the top of this blog post. 
    • Vietnam
      • Voters cross out the names of candidates they do not choose on their ballot. (Circular 01/2021/TT-BNV dated January 11, 2021, to guide the Voting Procedure for National Assembly’s Representatives term 2021-2026 based on Law on Voting for Representatives of National Assembly and People’s Council dated June 25, 2015, art. 10 para. 3.c, 3.d, 4b.)

    What other interesting voting procedures have you encountered? What other countries would you like to hear about? Let us know in the comments.

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it is free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Voting in Public Elections Across Selected Asian Countries

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The following is a guest post by Foreign Law Specialist Sayuri Umeda, and the following foreign law interns who work with Sayuri: Raksmei Dara, Inseol Hong, Nguyet Le, and Panicha (Yuri) Rattanaboonsen.

    As lawyers from Japan, Cambodia, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand, we were curious about the different rules and regulations for voting in public elections for each of the countries we represent, and decided to compare the voting methods of these countries. To our surprise, we found that each country had a different voting method.

    The following three questions were asked:

    1. What is the voting age;
    2. What is the right of convicted criminals to vote, and
    3. What is the method of voting (national elections only, excluding proportional representation elections if that is not the only electoral system)?

    Question 1 – What is the voting age in the countries above?

    All countries have a voting age of 18. Voters must be 18 years of age or older on election day.

    Question 2 – Do convicted criminals have the right to vote?

    In all countries, those who are imprisoned are denied the right to vote.

    In South Korea, such restrictions are limited to those who are serving sentences of one year or more. Those awaiting execution of a sentence of one year or more are also ineligible to vote. (Public Official Election Act, infra, art. 18) In Japan and Korea, individuals convicted of certain electoral and corruption offenses are barred from voting for several years after the completion of their sentence. (Korea: id.; Japan, Public Offices Election Act, infra, art. 11.) In Thailand, those who are detained by legal order and those who have been deprived of the right to vote, with or without a final sentence, cannot vote. (Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives, infra, sec. 32.)

    Even though outside the scope of the question, we were surprised to learn that in Thailand, the constitution does not give monks, novices, or clergy the right to vote. (Constitution, B.E. 2560, sec. 96.)

    Question 3 – What is the method of voting in each country?

    • Cambodia
      • In the Cambodian national election, voters do not vote for an individual candidate, but for a party. (Law on the Election of Members of the National Assembly, art. 5.) The long-ruling Cambodian People’s Party has won landslide victories in elections since the 2003 general election. A voter places a single tick mark inside one of the square boxes next to their chosen political party on the ballot paper. (Id. art. 105.) Before exiting the ballot casting room, the voter must dip a finger in indelible purple ink and mark their name on the voter’s list to confirm that they have voted.
    • Japan
      • Voters must write the name of one candidate on the ballot. (Public Offices Election Act, Act No. 100 of 1950, as amended, art. 46, para. 1.) Some complain that writing the names of candidates is not easy for people with disabilities or injuries. Marking the name of the candidate of choice would be easier and reduce mistakes. However, this is not permitted in national elections. The Kobe Newspaper explains that when using the marking system, the names of all candidates must be written on the ballot, so the ballots cannot be printed until the candidates have been decided, which takes time to prepare.
    • South Korea
      • The election is conducted by marking a ballot. (Public Official Election Act, Act No. 20902, as amended April 1, 2025, art. 146, para. 1.) Marking is done by using a stamp that is placed in a box next to the candidate chosen by the voter. The stamps are prepared by the Election Commission. This stamp has an interesting history. In the 1940s and 1950s, voters had to bring objects to stamp their ballots, such as bullet casings or small bamboo sticks. Today, the stamp imprints “ト”. This character shape has an advantage that the marked candidate cannot be mistaken when an imprint is smeared. The ballot paper must be folded before being put in the box.
    • Thailand
      • Voting is done by marking a cross in the box beside the candidate’s number on the ballot paper. In cases where the eligible voters wish to vote for none of the candidates, they shall mark a cross in the checkbox for “not to vote for any candidate”. (Organic Act on the Election of Members of the House of Representatives B.E. 2561 (2018), § 91.) Please see the examples of acceptable and unacceptable crosses in the image at the top of this blog post. 
    • Vietnam
      • Voters cross out the names of candidates they do not choose on their ballot. (Circular 01/2021/TT-BNV dated January 11, 2021, to guide the Voting Procedure for National Assembly’s Representatives term 2021-2026 based on Law on Voting for Representatives of National Assembly and People’s Council dated June 25, 2015, art. 10 para. 3.c, 3.d, 4b.)

    What other interesting voting procedures have you encountered? What other countries would you like to hear about? Let us know in the comments.

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it is free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: KC Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal Firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for fentanyl trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm.

    Lawrence A. Andrews, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

    On March 4, 2025, Andrews pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Andrews admitted he possessed fentanyl pills weighing a total of approximately 19 grams with the intent to distribute and a SCCY, Model CPX-2, 9mm pistol on Aug. 8, 2023.

    On Aug. 8, 2023, officers with the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Andrews.  Andrews was arrested on a failure to appear warrant.  Officers searched Andrews’ vehicle and located the firearm and fentanyl, along with approximately 10 grams of PCP, 22 grams of cocaine in the base form, 3 grams of cocaine in the salt form, and 3 grams of methamphetamine.

    Andrews has prior felony convictions, including two convictions for stealing, eight convictions for possession of a controlled substance, trafficking in drugs in the second degree, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings.  It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: KC Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal Firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for fentanyl trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm.

    Lawrence A. Andrews, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

    On March 4, 2025, Andrews pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Andrews admitted he possessed fentanyl pills weighing a total of approximately 19 grams with the intent to distribute and a SCCY, Model CPX-2, 9mm pistol on Aug. 8, 2023.

    On Aug. 8, 2023, officers with the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Andrews.  Andrews was arrested on a failure to appear warrant.  Officers searched Andrews’ vehicle and located the firearm and fentanyl, along with approximately 10 grams of PCP, 22 grams of cocaine in the base form, 3 grams of cocaine in the salt form, and 3 grams of methamphetamine.

    Andrews has prior felony convictions, including two convictions for stealing, eight convictions for possession of a controlled substance, trafficking in drugs in the second degree, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings.  It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: KC Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking, Illegal Firearm

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for fentanyl trafficking and illegally possessing a firearm.

    Lawrence A. Andrews, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

    On March 4, 2025, Andrews pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Andrews admitted he possessed fentanyl pills weighing a total of approximately 19 grams with the intent to distribute and a SCCY, Model CPX-2, 9mm pistol on Aug. 8, 2023.

    On Aug. 8, 2023, officers with the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Andrews.  Andrews was arrested on a failure to appear warrant.  Officers searched Andrews’ vehicle and located the firearm and fentanyl, along with approximately 10 grams of PCP, 22 grams of cocaine in the base form, 3 grams of cocaine in the salt form, and 3 grams of methamphetamine.

    Andrews has prior felony convictions, including two convictions for stealing, eight convictions for possession of a controlled substance, trafficking in drugs in the second degree, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings.  It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    Project Safe Neighborhoods

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Allen Rhule, 45, of Charleston, was sentenced today to six years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 24, 2024, Rhule was on parole for prior felony convictions when parole officers conducted a search of his residence as a condition of his supervision. Officers found a Taurus model PT-140 Millenium G2 .40-caliber pistol and a Palmetto State Armory model PA-15 multi-caliber rifle in Rhule’s bedroom. Officers also found loaded ammunition magazines, including high-capacity magazines for the multi-caliber rifle.

    Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Rhule knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his prior felony convictions for attempted manufacture of a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 3, 2022, and attempted grand larceny in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 31, 2023.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and West Virginia Parole Services.

    United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-157.

    ###

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Allen Rhule, 45, of Charleston, was sentenced today to six years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 24, 2024, Rhule was on parole for prior felony convictions when parole officers conducted a search of his residence as a condition of his supervision. Officers found a Taurus model PT-140 Millenium G2 .40-caliber pistol and a Palmetto State Armory model PA-15 multi-caliber rifle in Rhule’s bedroom. Officers also found loaded ammunition magazines, including high-capacity magazines for the multi-caliber rifle.

    Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Rhule knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his prior felony convictions for attempted manufacture of a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 3, 2022, and attempted grand larceny in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 31, 2023.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and West Virginia Parole Services.

    United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-157.

    ###

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jason Allen Rhule, 45, of Charleston, was sentenced today to six years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 24, 2024, Rhule was on parole for prior felony convictions when parole officers conducted a search of his residence as a condition of his supervision. Officers found a Taurus model PT-140 Millenium G2 .40-caliber pistol and a Palmetto State Armory model PA-15 multi-caliber rifle in Rhule’s bedroom. Officers also found loaded ammunition magazines, including high-capacity magazines for the multi-caliber rifle.

    Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Rhule knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm as a result of his prior felony convictions for attempted manufacture of a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 3, 2022, and attempted grand larceny in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 31, 2023.

    Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and West Virginia Parole Services.

    United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-157.

    ###

     

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Mexican national sentenced for firearms violation

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    TYLER, Texas –A Mexican national has been sentenced for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

    Tomas Ocamp-Mondragon, 37, a Mexican national illegally living in Tyler, pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on July 10, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, on August 5, 2024, Ocampo-Mondragon was stopped for a traffic violation in Smith County. It was determined that he was intoxicated, and he was arrested.  During the arrest, a loaded firearm was discovered in his pocket.

    Further investigation revealed Ocampo-Mondragon was a citizen of Mexico and had previously been found unlawfully present in the United States on September 14, 2019, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  He was also found to be in possession of a firearm during that encounter.  He voluntarily returned to Mexico on January 3, 2020, and did not have permission to return to the United States.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Department of Homeland Security, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Armed Mexican national sentenced for firearms violation

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    TYLER, Texas –A Mexican national has been sentenced for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

    Tomas Ocamp-Mondragon, 37, a Mexican national illegally living in Tyler, pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on July 10, 2025.

    According to information presented in court, on August 5, 2024, Ocampo-Mondragon was stopped for a traffic violation in Smith County. It was determined that he was intoxicated, and he was arrested.  During the arrest, a loaded firearm was discovered in his pocket.

    Further investigation revealed Ocampo-Mondragon was a citizen of Mexico and had previously been found unlawfully present in the United States on September 14, 2019, in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  He was also found to be in possession of a firearm during that encounter.  He voluntarily returned to Mexico on January 3, 2020, and did not have permission to return to the United States.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    This case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Department of Homeland Security, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Deputy Secretary General to take part in the 107th Rose-Roth Seminar

    Source: NATO

    On Monday, 14 July 2025, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, Ms Radmila Shekerinska, will take part in a panel discussion, followed by an exchange of views, at the 107th Rose-Roth Seminar “EU-NATO Cooperation: Essential Partnership and Democratic Resilience”, organised in partnership with the European Parliament.

    Media advisory

    9:35 (CEST) Participation by the NATO Deputy Secretary General in the 107th Rose-Roth Seminar

    Media coverage

    The event will be streamed live on the Multimedia Centre portal of the European Parliament.

    For more information:

    For general queries: contact the NATO Press Office

    For more information about the event, please access the event’s website.

    Follow us on X: @NATO, @DepSecGenNATO and @NATOPress

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sudan: Surge in Darfur displacement pushes Tawila into full-scale crisis, cholera spreading

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    A massive increase in people fleeing to Tawila in North Darfur over the last three months is propelling the small town into a full-scale humanitarian crisis. With the rainy season starting, hundreds of thousands of people who just barely escaped horror are bracing themselves for torrential storms, cholera outbreak and spiralling hunger.

    Since April 2025, Tawila, has absorbed nearly 379,000 people fleeing repeated campaigns of mass destruction and year long siege on Zamzam Camp and Al Fasher, where famine has also been confirmed. Most are women (70 per cent), children, and people with disabilities, arriving into camps, mostly on foot after days of fleeing for their lives. Four new camps were set up to cope with the spiralling numbers and humanitarian organisations are overwhelmed, with prepositioned aid ahead of the rainy season already depleted. 

    “The situation in Tawila is collapsing,” said NRC’s Sudan Country Director Shashwat Saraf. “Families are surviving on scraps, sleeping in the dirt under roofs made out of straw, with barely any access to clean water and toilets. Cases of cholera are rising, and the rainy season is approaching fast, making living conditions more miserable.” 

    NRC’s June 2025 assessment across four new camps in Tawila housing 213,000 people confirms: 

    • Lack of access to water: only 21,000 people, or 10 per cent, have reliable water access. 
    • Latrine shortages: approximately 2,684 households, or less than 10 per cent, have access to latrines, while 31,238 households are without access. 
    • Severe food shortages: most families report that they are eating one meal a day or less. 
    • Lack of schools: only 11 temporary learning spaces means that many children are unable to attend classes. 
    • Major protection concerns: 39 per cent of women are pregnant or lactating, 22 per cent of households include persons with disabilities, and there is a lack of proper services and support 
    • Uncertain future: 60 per cent of the people in the camps say they are intending to stay long-term, yet 27 per cent have no plan, reflecting fear and uncertainty. 

    The families in the camps have been fleeing scenes of extreme violence: April’s raid on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps left up to 400 dead, many raped, aid workers killed, and survivors risking their lives to flee into Tawila in desperation. Since April 2023, 782,000 people have been displaced from Al Fasher and Zamzam, including nearly 500,000 in April – May 2025 alone.  

    A separate assessment by aid agencies and local authorities in Al Fasher found 38 per cent of children under 5 at displacement sites suffer from acute malnutrition, 11 percent with severe acute malnutrition.  

    “The window for saving thousands of lives is closing fast,” Saraf added. “We need funding and decisive action from the world’s leaders to get aid trucks and relief teams to Tawila – without delays and restrictions from the warring parties – before this spirals completely out of control.”

    – on behalf of Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA)’s Sustainable Support for Emergency Medicine Capacity in The Gambia

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    The Emergency Medicine Capacity Building Program (ATKAP), launched in 2021 by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in cooperation with the Ministries of Health of the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of The Gambia, continues to yield lasting results.

    The Introduction to Emergency Response Training (ADG+), which started as part of the project, is now delivered by Gambian doctors thanks to the “training of trainers” model. TİKA continues to support the program by providing modern training equipment.

    In the second phase of the 2025 program, a total of 50 healthcare providers participated in the training held at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, which included extensive theoretical and practical modules on emergency response, trauma management, disaster planning, and teamwork during crises.

    With ATKAP, TİKA continues to strengthen local health capacity through similar trainings held in various countries.

    – on behalf of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa calls for citizen-led national dialogue

    Source: Government of South Africa

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has convened the inaugural meeting of the Eminent Persons Group to kickstart a critical national dialogue aimed at addressing South Africa’s persistent challenges 31 years after democracy.

    Speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, President Ramaphosa candidly acknowledged the country’s ongoing struggles. 

    “There can be no doubt that we have begun to transform our society and our economy. And yet, the vestiges of our apartheid past remain,” he said, pointing to persistent issues of inequality, poverty and unemployment that continue to plague the nation.

    “Our economy has not been growing, and the number of unemployed people has been rising.” 

    He also acknowledged the deterioration in governance, a decline in the delivery of services, and widespread corruption and wastage of public resources.

    “At the same time, we have seen an increasing disengagement by many people from the democratic process, as witnessed by the turnout in the May 2024 elections.” 

    According to the country’s Commander-in-Chief, the national dialogue represents a bold attempt to unite South Africans across political, cultural, and social divides. 

    READ | National Convention to set agenda for the National Dialogue

    President Ramaphosa used Friday’s meeting to call for a process that is inclusive and citizen-led.

    “It cannot be partisan. It cannot favour one group or perspective over any other.

    “It needs to be citizen-led, and the outcomes need to reflect the collective views of the South African people.”

    The President said the national dialogue represents a strategic effort to mobilise South Africans and restore the country’s developmental trajectory. 

    “The national dialogue is neither government-driven nor directed,” President Ramaphosa stressed, underlining the importance of genuine public participation.

    “Citizens must be able to freely and fully participate in the national dialogue as individuals, in organised formations, and through representative bodies.

    “That is why the Eminent Persons Group is so important.” 

    Highlighting the nation’s rich tradition of collaborative problem-solving, President Ramaphosa noted that “dialoguing is not a new phenomenon to South Africans”. 

    He also pointed to previous successful national conversations like drafting the Constitution, the National Peace Accord, and the country’s response to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. 

    However, the President emphasised that the dialogue is not intended to replace existing democratic processes. 

    Instead, President Ramaphosa pointed out that it aims to create a social compact that outlines clear commitments for government, political parties, business, labour, civil society, and citizens. 

    President Ramaphosa stated that a carefully selected Eminent Persons Group will champion the dialogue, tasked with ensuring its authenticity and effectiveness. 

    He challenged these leaders to be critical guardians of the process, not mere cheerleaders.

    “We are asking you, Eminent Persons, to be champions of the national dialogue, not cheerleaders.

    “We expect that you will critically consider the progress and the conduct of the national dialogue, and provide advice where correction is required.

    “If there is confusion or misunderstanding, or disarray, we ask you to help correct it. If there are groups that seek to commandeer the process, we ask that you alert us.” 

    Strengthening social cohesion

    The First Citizen announced that the first national convention is scheduled for August, with the hopes of generating a collective vision for South Africa’s future. 

    “South Africans want to be heard, they want to participate; they want to be included in whatever process is meant to improve their lives.”

    With scepticism and political tensions already emerging, President Ramaphosa believes that the success of this national dialogue remains to be seen. 

    “We have already been confronted by the challenge of misinformation and misrepresentation, whether on the cost of the national dialogue or on who is running it.

    “But that should not distract us from the work we have to do to give a platform to the millions of voices in our country, so that they may be heard and so that they may be counted.

    “We should not fear criticism. We should welcome it.”

    Despite criticism, the President strongly believes this platform represents a potentially crucial step in addressing the country’s deep-seated challenges. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cape Town carries out temp repairs on potholes

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Officials from the City of Cape Town have undertaken temporary pothole repairs in Gugulethu, Manenberg and Newlands, as wet conditions persist.

    “During winter, and as a result of heavy and ongoing rains, water seeps into cracks on the road surface. These cracks widen, and turn into potholes that damage tyres and cause accidents. 

    “Permanent pothole repairs require dry, warm conditions, thus during the wet months, we have to do cold mix asphalt repairs. 

    “In summer, we will return to monitor the performance of the cold mix and do permanent repairs with hot mix asphalts, where needed,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas.

    READ | Western Cape concerned at 23 deaths on province’s roads in one week

    Quintas joined the city’s Roads Infrastructure Management team this week as they embarked on temporary pothole repairs.

    Excessive mountain run-off has also led to flooding in some areas. In Gugulethu and Manenberg, the city found that illegal dumping of household items into stormwater drains increased the severity of flooding, as the drains were blocked.

    “Another issue is illegal outlets or the dumping of greywater which contains chemicals that damage road surfaces and causes potholes. This greywater contains detergents and comes from baths, clothes, dishes and car washing. 

    “Our teams are working hard to clear blocked drains and keep roads safe this winter, but we need your help. 

    “Please dispose of greywater properly through the sewer system so it can be treated and re-used, and keep it off our road surfaces. Together, we can reduce winter flooding and prevent the forming of new potholes,” said Quintas.

    Residents are encouraged to report incidents of flooding and related issues to the city’s call centre at 0860 103 089, via the City App, or alternatively via email on transport.info@capetown.gov.za. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States, 2024

    Source: US Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled $151.0 billion in 2024, according to preliminary statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Expenditures decreased $24.9 billion, or 14.2 percent, from $176.0 billion (revised) in 2023 and were below the annual average of $277.2 billion for 2014–2023. As in previous years, acquisitions of existing U.S. businesses accounted for most of the expenditures.

    Expenditures in 2024 for acquisitions were $143.0 billion, expenditures to establish new U.S. businesses were $6.3 billion, and expenditures to expand existing foreign-owned businesses were $1.8 billion. Planned total expenditures, which include both first-year and planned future expenditures, were $157.0 billion.

    Employment in 2024 at newly acquired, established, or expanded foreign-owned businesses in the United States was 204,200 employees.

    Expenditures by industry, country, and state

    By industry, expenditures for new direct investment were largest in the manufacturing sector at $67.7 billion, which accounted for 44.9 percent of total expenditures. Within manufacturing, expenditures were largest in chemical manufacturing ($23.7 billion). There were also notable expenditures in the finance and insurance sector ($23.2 billion) and utilities ($16.0 billion).

    The country with the largest investment was Ireland ($30.1 billion), followed by Canada ($23.9 billion).1  By region, Europe contributed the most new investment, $96.7 billion, or 64.0 percent of all new investment in 2024. Asia and Pacific was the second-largest investing region, with $23.2 billion in expenditures.

    By state, Texas received the most investment in 2024, with $22.8 billion in investment expenditures. Other states with significant investment expenditures included Georgia ($16.3 billion) and California ($12.9 billion).

    Greenfield expenditures

    Greenfield investment expenditures—expenditures to establish a new U.S. business or to expand an existing foreign-owned U.S. business—were $8.1 billion in 2024. By industry, greenfield expenditures were largest in the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, totaling $2.8 billion, led by management, scientific, and technical consulting ($1.6 billion). By region, Europe ($3.8 billion), Latin America and Other Western Hemisphere ($1.4 billion), and Asia and Pacific ($1.2 billion) had the largest greenfield expenditures. Wyoming ($2.0 billion) and New Mexico ($1.4 billion) received the highest levels of greenfield investment by state.

    Planned total expenditures for greenfield investment initiated in 2024, which include both first-year and planned future expenditures, were $14.1 billion.

    Employment by industry, country, and state

    In 2024, current employment of acquired enterprises was 203,600. Total planned employment, which includes the current employment of acquired enterprises, the planned employment of newly established business enterprises when fully operational, and the planned employment associated with expansions, was 213,200.

    By industry, the manufacturing sector accounted for the largest number of current employees (73,600). Ireland (43,100) and Canada (37,500) accounted for the largest number of current employees by country. Florida (32,700) was the state with the largest current employment resulting from new investment, followed by Texas (18,200) and New York (14,200).

    Updates to 2023 Expenditures for New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States
    Billions of dollars
      Previously Published Revised
    First-year expenditures 148.8 176.0
        U.S. businesses acquired 136.5 158.7
        U.S. businesses established 7.4 9.0
        U.S. businesses expanded 5.0 8.3
    Planned total expenditures 175.9 218.8
        U.S. businesses acquired 136.5 158.7
        U.S. businesses established 23.5 26.3
        U.S. businesses expanded 16.0 33.8
    U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

    Related Data Tables

    Starting with this release, BEA is not including tables in the body of the news release. For the 2024 new foreign direct investment statistics highlighted in this release, as well as estimates for earlier years, see the below data tables in BEA’s Interactive Data Application and Supplemental Data Tables.

    First-year and planned total expenditures
    First-Year and Planned Total Expenditures, Industry of Affiliate by Type of Investment
    First-Year and Planned Total Expenditures, Country of UBO by Type of Investment
    First-Year and Planned Total Expenditures, State by Type of Investment

    First-Year and Planned Total Expenditures, Industry of UBO by Type of Investment
    First-Year and Planned Total Expenditures, by Industry of Affiliate (All Industries)
    First-Year and Planned Total Expenditures, by Country of UBO (All Countries)

    First-Year Expenditures, Country of UBO by Industry of Affiliate
    First-Year Expenditures, Country of Foreign Parent and UBO
    Planned Total Expenditures for Establishments and Expansions, by Type of Expenditure

    Greenfield investments (expenditures for U.S. businesses established and expanded)
    Planned Expenditures for Greenfield Investments, Type of Investment by Year
    Planned Expenditures for Greenfield Investments, Industry of Affiliate by Year
    Planned Expenditures for Greenfield Investments, Country of UBO by Year
    Planned Expenditures for Greenfield Investments, State by Year
    Expenditures for Greenfield Investments, Year of Investment Expenditure by Year Investment Was Initiated

    Number of investments by size (supplemental data tables)
    Number of Investments Initiated, Distribution of Planned Total Expenditures, Size by Type of Investment

    Employment
    Current and Planned Employment, Industry of Affiliate by Type of Investment
    Current and Planned Employment, Country of UBO by Type of Investment
    Current and Planned Employment, State by Type of Investment

    Discontinued tables
    Some data tables previously produced alongside this news release have been discontinued as of July 11, 2025. Data tables on sales, net income, and balance sheets of new affiliates were discontinued and have been archived. These tables have never been part of the data tables included in the body of the news releases.

    Note. With the release of 2025 new foreign direct investment statistics in July 2026, the 2024 data will be superseded and can then be accessed in BEA’s Data Archive.

    Next release: July 2026
    New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States, 2025

    1 As measured by country of ultimate beneficial owner (UBO; see “Additional Information” for a description).

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Del Rio, federal partner investigation results in sentence for illegal Honduran alien for alien smuggling conspiracy

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    SAN ANTONIO — A Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced July 9 for his leadership role in a massive alien smuggling conspiracy that spanned three years and involved thousands of aliens from over 11 different countries. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Del Rio and various federal and state law enforcement agencies in South Texas conducted the investigation.

    A federal judge sentenced Enil Edil Mejia-Zuniga, also known as Chino, 34, of Olancho, Honduras, to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his role in smuggling thousands of aliens into the U.S. for financial gain. He was also ordered to pay a $4,500 fine. Mejia-Zuniga pleaded guilty to three counts of bringing an alien to the U.S. for financial gain and aiding and abetting.

    Co-defendants Monica Hernandez-Palma, 33, of Mexico, and Allyson Elsires Alvarez-Zuniga, 26, of Honduras, entered guilty pleas on April 7 and Aug. 21, 2023, respectively, and are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Genyi Arguenta-Flores, 32, of Comayagua, Honduras, was sentenced to five years in prison on May 12. A final co-defendant is in custody in Mexico pending an extradition request from the U.S.

    “This sentence sends a clear message to those who exploit our immigration system for personal profit,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “For more than three years, these individuals operated a transnational smuggling ring driven by greed, moving illegal aliens from 11 countries in blatant disregard of the law. The sentencing in this case is a testament to HSI’s commitment to upholding national security. Human smuggling undermines the security of our borders and disrupts lawful immigration processes. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to protect our national security.”

    “Mejia-Zuniga and his co-conspirators made millions of dollars off the backs of thousands of people whom they smuggled into the U.S,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case represents the epitome of the ruthless and sophisticated criminal organizations that exploit our borders for personal financial gain. The Criminal Division will not stop investigating these cases until all human smuggling organizations are eradicated and the criminals who operate them are prosecuted.”

    “In an effort to satisfy his greed, Mejia-Zuniga facilitated the illegal movement of thousands of Middle Easterners into the U.S,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin R. Simmons. “His actions put our national security at risk. However, thanks to our many federal law enforcement partners, Mejia-Zuniga will no longer be allowed to enrich himself to the detriment of this country.”

    “U.S Border Patrol’s Intelligence and Information Task Force played a critical role in supporting Operation Red Tide through extensive research and analysis,” said Chief Scott Good of the Border Patrol’s Law Enforcement Operations directorate. “Our team’s exploitation of subpoena returns and identification of key financial patterns helped bring these smugglers to justice. The USBP will continue working with law enforcement agencies at home and abroad to dismantle criminal networks and secure our nation’s borders.”

    According to court documents, from November 2020 through March 2023, the Mejia-Zuniga alien smuggling organization smuggled aliens from Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, India, Pakistan and Colombia through Eagle Pass. Aliens primarily contracted with a Pakistani smuggler based in Brazil to be transported to the U.S. In turn, the Brazil-based smuggler worked with Mejia-Zuniga, who was based in San Antonio, to facilitate the aliens’ travel from South America to the U.S. Mejia-Zuniga directed operations of the ASO and paid drivers, armed “coyotes” and stash house operators.

    Mejia-Zuniga admitted to smuggling between 2,500 and 3,000 aliens into the U.S in just two years. The organization charged between $6,500 to $12,000 per alien. Mejia-Zuniga admitted that he made $30,000 for every 10 illegal aliens who made it to the Rio Grande River and another $30,000 if those 10 illegal aliens made it to San Antonio.

    One of the smuggled aliens reported paying the organization $20,000 to be brought illegally into the U.S with his brother. The Mejia-Zuniga alien smuggling organization directed that alien to a stash house in Monterrey, Mexico, where it housed him with 10 other aliens. The organization later moved the same alien to a stash house in Piedras Negras, Mexico, with another 20 to 25 aliens. Ultimately, an armed coyote guided the group of aliens across the Rio Grande River. Once across the Rio Grande, the Mejia-Zuniga ASO transported the aliens to a hotel in San Antonio.

    In addition to witness statements, other evidence gathered during the investigation included wire transfers, customer ledgers, foreign identification documents and photographs of members of the Mejia-Zuniga alien smuggling organization with firearms.

    HSI Del Rio engaged in an extensive, yearslong investigation in Operation Red Tide, which led to the development of this case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol Del Rio Sector, HSI Monterrey, HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center’s International Interdiction Task Force.

    Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Matt Kass are prosecuting the case.

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

    For more information about HSI San Antonio and its public safety efforts in Central and South Texas, follow HSI San Antonio on X at @HSI_SanAntonio.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Authorised Dealer Bank – HDFC Bank Ltd

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹4.88 lakh (Rupees Four Lakh, Eighty-Eight Thousand only) on HDFC Bank Ltd. in exercise of powers vested in the Reserve Bank under the provisions of Section 11(3) of FEMA, 1999, for contravention of Paragraph 9.3.6 of ‘Master Direction – Foreign Investment in India’ dated January 04, 2018, while granting a term loan to its client.

    The Reserve Bank of India had issued a Show Cause Notice to the bank, in response to which the bank had submitted a written reply and had also made oral submissions thereon. After considering the facts of the case and the response given by HDFC Bank Ltd. in the matter, the Reserve Bank of India came to the conclusion that the contraventions were established and warranted imposition of penalty.

    This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/703

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Authorised Dealer Bank – HDFC Bank Ltd

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹4.88 lakh (Rupees Four Lakh, Eighty-Eight Thousand only) on HDFC Bank Ltd. in exercise of powers vested in the Reserve Bank under the provisions of Section 11(3) of FEMA, 1999, for contravention of Paragraph 9.3.6 of ‘Master Direction – Foreign Investment in India’ dated January 04, 2018, while granting a term loan to its client.

    The Reserve Bank of India had issued a Show Cause Notice to the bank, in response to which the bank had submitted a written reply and had also made oral submissions thereon. After considering the facts of the case and the response given by HDFC Bank Ltd. in the matter, the Reserve Bank of India came to the conclusion that the contraventions were established and warranted imposition of penalty.

    This action is based on the deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/703

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lord Mayor hosts County Armagh Darts Academy

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Lord Mayor, Alderman Stephen Moutray recently hosted members of the Co Armagh Darts Academy in the Civic Centre, Craigavon and especially sent best wishes to Ruth Bell and Sam Graham who have been selected to represent Northern Ireland in the 2025 Europe Cup in Assen, Holland in July.

    Also present to wish Sam and Ruth the best were Jonathan Buckley MLA, Cllr Kyle Moutray and Cllr Alan Mulholland

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Manchester welcomes Oasis fans from around the world to the city for epic homecoming concerts

    Source: City of Manchester

    With the first of Oasis’ homecoming gigs now only a matter of hours away, Manchester is going all out to extend the biggest of Mancunian welcomes to all fans of the legendary band who were lucky enoug

    The sold-out shows will see 340,000 fans from across the globe descend on Manchester over the course of the next week and city bosses have pulled out all the stops to both dress the city and help make sure everyone has a great time, with a packed programme of fantastic music themed events and activities across the city centre as part of its MCR Live ’25 campaign.

    Music fans with or without tickets to see the boys from Burnage are invited to get themselves into the city centre this weekend and over the next few weeks and enjoy everything on offer.

    There’s block parties in the Northern Quarter with live music and djs, a fantastic market selling all music related stuff on St Peter’s Square, pop-up live music performances, the Manchester Live hub bar with its Manchester themed drinks and stage with live acts and DJs in Piccadilly Gardens, and a whole week of Oasis themed stuff going on at Manchester’s award-winning Central Library. 

    Plus there’s an absolutely brilliant guitar trail Music for the Senses now open across the city – with fabulous guitars that have been turned into stunning works of art by some amazing artists, including ‘Guitar Street’ a whole street that has got guitars strung across it like bunting, each one with the face of an up-and-coming young Manchester musician on it, and ‘Cathedral of Sound’ in St Peter’s Square – an incredible huge metal dome structure that’s been completely covered in real guitars by artist Lazerian, that you can walk around and walk through and is both beautiful and awe-inspiring.

    There’s also a whole bunch of guitars to see as part of the trail that have been donated by famous faces – including of course one from Oasis which has been signed by Liam and Noel and is going to be auctioned off at the end of the summer along with all the others, to raise money for grassroots music projects and venues in the city.

    So whether you’ve got your ticket and are looking for something to do on your way through to the big gig, or you’re one of the unlucky ones without, the centre of Manchester is where it’s at. There’s a brilliant atmosphere right across the city, and with pre-show parties, after-shows, and a whole lot more going on, it’s definitely the place to be, especially for anyone who doesn’t have a ticket to the big gigs this weekend themselves. 

    Music fans who don’t have tickets shouldn’t travel to Heaton Park – they should come instead to the city centre and enjoy what’s on offer there.

    There are no facilities for them at the park and they will not be able to see the concert or get into the event arena – which is double-walled with solid high security fencing all the way round and in excess of 2000 event security staff and police officers on duty around the site to ensure both the safety and wellbeing of ticketholders and that only those who have tickets access the concert.  Measures will also be in place to clear the park of all non-ticket holders before the concert gets properly underway.

    Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is known the world over for our fantastic music scene which this summer alone will see 1.3m music tourists visit the city.

    “The additional boost to the city’s economy – already one of the fastest growing in Europe – from music fans is huge and is felt right across the hospitality and retail sector, with hundreds of thousands of pounds spent by them in our hotels, bars, restaurants, and shops.  

    “We’re all set to welcome music fans from across the globe into Manchester today and this next week for what is going to be a supersonic string of hometown dates from Liam and Noel.

    “The whole city is going all out to celebrate and help everyone have a good time. We’ve got some fantastic things going on with a real party atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, whether they have tickets for the Oasis gigs or not. Anyone without a ticket though shouldn’t travel to Heaton Park, there’s nothing for them to see or do there. They should get themselves into the city centre instead where there’s a fantastic atmosphere with an absolute ton of things happening on gig days to get involved in and enjoy, and to make sure everyone has a brilliant time.”

    Find out the full lowdown on everything that’s happening as part of MCR Live ’25 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –