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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Terrorist Groups’ Resilience, UN Counter-Terrorism Chief Tells Security Council Lasting Global Collaboration Key to Address Conditions Conducive to Lawlessness

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Speakers Discuss Risk ISIL/Da’esh, Their Affiliates Pose in Syria, Afghanistan, Across Africa

    The resilience of terrorist groups underscores the need for sustained international collaboration and comprehensive, long-term responses that address the conditions conducive to terrorism, the Security Council heard today during a briefing on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

    Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, discussing the Secretary-General’s twentieth biannual strategic-level report on the topic, highlighted the volatile situation in Syria, and “the risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists”.  An estimated 42,500 individuals, some with alleged links to Da’esh, remain in detention camps in the north-east.  Member States must “facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of their nationals still stranded in those camps and facilities”, he said. 

    Providing details on the global terrorism landscape during the past six months, he said that, in Afghanistan, ISIL-Khorasan continued to pose a significant threat noting that its supporters plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States.  In West Africa and the Sahel, Da’esh affiliates and other terrorist groups intensified attacks, including against schools in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, while in Somalia, the organization successfully recruited foreign terrorist fighters. 

    Sub-Saharan Africa has become the epicenter of global terrorism, he said, noting that the United Nations has prioritized capacity-building support to the continent.  His office increased its delivery of technical assistance by 16 per cent, relying notably on the work of its Rabat Office.  Highlighting the Fusion Cells programme which delivered specialized training to 124 analysts from 21 African Member States, he stressed the need to further strengthen border security to counter movements of terrorists.  His office partnered with the Governments of Kuwait and Tajikistan to organize a conference on this.

    The Countering Terrorist Travel programme, he said, continued to expand with 63 beneficiary Member States who are increasingly relying on the goTRAVEL software to collect and process passenger data to detect and prevent terrorist movements.  Noting that the Pact for the Future renewed the international community’s commitment to a future free from terrorism, he urged Member States to translate these commitments into action, prioritizing inclusive, networked and sustainable responses.

    Approach Centered on Prevention, Respect for Human Rights Key to Countering Terrorist Threat

    Also briefing the Council was Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, who voiced concern over the humanitarian and security crisis in north-eastern Syria, with over 40,000 individuals confined in camps and detention facilities, under conditions marked by overcrowding, inadequate shelter and limited access to clean water and sanitation.  Beyond the Middle East, Da’esh remains agile, taking advantage of ongoing conflicts and regions experiencing growing instability, she continued.  The group now poses a threat to security and sustainable development across the African continent.

    Armed terrorist groups, such as Islamic State West Africa Province, are exploiting fragile conditions to recruit children, commit abductions and attack schools and hospitals.  In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, Da’esh’s centralized operations continue to proliferate as regional cooperation declines, she said, adding that the role of the regional financial hubs used by the group and its affiliates has also expanded.

    “Addressing these threats requires an approach centered on prevention, grounded in respect for human rights, and with regional cooperation as the linchpin,” she stressed, noting the Committee’s visits to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania and the United Republic of Tanzania.  Assessments revealed gaps in border security and the need for stronger regional collaboration to counter the transnational nature of Da’esh’s activities.  For its part, the Executive Directorate has recently adopted the non-binding guiding principles on preventing, detecting and disrupting the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes — the so-called “Algeria Guiding Principles”, she said.

    Council Members Concerned Over Terrorists’ Adeptness at Expanding Operations, Attractomg New Recruits

    In the ensuing discussion, Council members expressed concern that, despite decades of counter-terrorism efforts, the phenomenon has transformed adeptly, taking advantage of new technology and financial innovations.  Sierra Leone’s delegate said that ISIL/Da’esh and their affiliates “continue to demonstrate resilience and adapt their modus operandi with extensive propaganda, as well as increased finances, fighters’ expertise and technology”.  14,000 fatalities were recorded on the African continent alone in 2024, he said, noting the impact on women and girls.  A security-centered approach alone is insufficient, he stressed.

    Along similar lines, Algeria’s delegate said that terrorist groups use the lack of development and marginalization to recruit and expand — therefore, security arrangements and development initiatives are equally necessary to combat this.  Highlighting the Sahel, he said that well-equipped armed groups are adopting advancing military strategies as well as using organized crime, narcotic trafficking, kidnapping and new technologies to finance such operations.

    France’s speaker noted that Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates are misappropriating new technology — such as drones — to carry out more targeted and lethal attacks. “These groups thrive on the soil where basic human rights are being violated, where women are marginalized,” she stated, adding that their use of sexual violence as a means of sowing terror has been documented.

    “Our work is far from complete,” said Somalia’s representative, spotlighting “patterns of expansion” across regions, with groups establishing networks that transcend national borders.  For its part, his Government has successfully conducted military operations with international partners to neutralize foreign Da’esh affiliates and implement joint security initiatives.

    The representative of the United States highlighted her Government’s “precision air strikes” against ISIS in Somalia on 1 February.  Her country “stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies,” she said.  She also urged Council members to list more ISIL and Al-Qaida affiliates in the 1267 Sanctions Committee list so that they will be subject to its worldwide assets travel ban and arms embargo.  While the Sahel has become “the global epicenter for fatalities from terrorist attacks”, ISIS-Khorasan is increasing its capabilities to conduct attacks and recruit in Afghanistan and Pakistan, she said.

    Counter-terrorism Policies Must Oppose Double Standards and Selectivity 

    Pakistan’s delegate drew attention to the need to address white supremacy and far-right extremism, as well.  Counter-terrorism policies have so far singled out only one religion — Islam — but they must address the negative impact of stigmatizing Muslims and fanning the flames of Islamophobia, he said.  His country is at the forefront of counter-terrorism efforts, fighting not only Da’esh, but also TTP [Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan] and Majid Brigade.  Further, “the international community has failed to address State terrorism, including the use of State power to suppress legitimate struggles for self-determination or to continue foreign occupation”, he said.

    It was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) invasion into Libya and the invasion of Iraq which spawned ISIL, the Russian Federation’s delegate said.  Further, the United Nations’ counter-terrorism officials must “study the facts” on assistance to terrorists provided by Western countries, he said, adding that Ukraine, for instance, has become a logistic hub from which weapons disseminate across the world.  NATO troops who hastily left Afghanistan also abandoned vast quantities of weapons which fell into the hands of ISIL and affiliates, he said.

    The Council should oppose double standards and selectivity in counter-terrorism efforts, China’s representative, Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity, underscored.  He also voiced concern over the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, and called on Damascus to fulfil its counter-terrorism obligations and prevent any terrorist forces from using the Syrian territory to threaten the security of other countries.

    Calls to Ensure Terrorist Groups Do Not Take Advantage of Instability in Syria 

    Several speakers, including the delegates of Denmark and Slovenia, stressed the need to ensure that terrorist groups do not take advantage of the instability in Syria.  Greece’s delegate underlined the need for a political road map in that country that includes constitutional reform, free and fair elections and inclusive governance. “This is the only way towards the eradication not only of Da’esh, but terrorism in general,” he added.  The United Kingdom’s delegate spotlighted the Global Coalition’s efforts to reduce the risk Da’esh poses as Syria embarks on its historical political transition.  However, “we cannot fight terrorism with force alone”, he emphasized, calling for a whole-of-society approach — with the meaningful participation of women — to address the long-term drivers of terrorism.

    Terrorists’ Increased Use of Information and Communications Technology Draws Concern

    Delegates also considered how to tackle terrorist groups’ increased use of information and communications technology (ICT), with Guyana’s representative noting that gaming and social media platforms bolster resources and recruitment.  The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has reported extensively on the increased risk of online radicalization and recruitment targeting youth and minors and the increasing use of cryptocurrencies by Da’esh, she said.

    Also noting Da’esh’s use of cryptocurrencies, Panama’s delegate said:  “Terrorism thrives on secrecy and underground flows of money.”  His country is the only Latin American nation to participate in the Global Coalition against Da’esh and is committed to preventing terrorists from using the Panamanian banking system for their financing.

    The Republic of Korea’s speaker stressed that the international community must respond by leveraging artificial-intelligence-driven analytics to improve threat detection, disrupt terrorist narratives and bolster information integrity.  Seoul’s new “AI and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” project, designed in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, seeks to map out how terrorists exploit AI and build States’ capacity to counter these tactics by incorporating AI solutions, he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA-Led Study Pinpoints Areas Sinking, Rising Along California Coast

    Source: NASA

    The elevation changes may seem small — amounting to fractions of inches per year — but they can increase or decrease local flood risk, wave exposure, and saltwater intrusion.
    Tracking and predicting sea level rise involves more than measuring the height of our oceans: Land along coastlines also inches up and down in elevation. Using California as a case study, a NASA-led team has shown how seemingly modest vertical land motion could significantly impact local sea levels in coming decades.
    By 2050, sea levels in California are expected to increase between 6 and 14.5 feet (15 and 37 centimeters) higher than year 2000 levels. Melting glaciers and ice sheets, as well as warming ocean water, are primarily driving the rise. As coastal communities develop adaptation strategies, they can also benefit from a better understanding of the land’s role, the team said. The findings are being used in updated guidance for the state.
    “In many parts of the world, like the reclaimed ground beneath San Francisco, the land is moving down faster than the sea itself is going up,” said lead author Marin Govorcin, a remote sensing scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. 
    The new study illustrates how vertical land motion can be unpredictable in scale and speed; it results from both human-caused factors such as groundwater pumping and wastewater injection, as well as from natural ones like tectonic activity. The researchers showed how direct satellite observations can improve estimates of vertical land motion and relative sea level rise. Current models, which are based on tide gauge measurements, cannot cover every location and all the dynamic land motion at work within a given region.
    Local Changes
    Researchers from JPL and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) used satellite radar to track more than a thousand miles of California coast rising and sinking in new detail. They pinpointed hot spots — including cities, beaches, and aquifers — at greater exposure to rising seas now and in coming decades.
    To capture localized motion inch by inch from space, the team analyzed radar measurements made by ESA’s (the European Space Agency’s) Sentinel-1 satellites, as well as motion velocity data from ground-based receiving stations in the Global Navigation Satellite System. Researchers compared multiple observations of the same locations made between 2015 to 2023 using a processing technique called interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR).

    Homing in on the San Francisco Bay Area — specifically, San Rafael, Corte Madera, Foster City, and Bay Farm Island — the team found the land subsiding at a steady rate of more than 0.4 inches (10 millimeters) per year due largely to sediment compaction. Accounting for this subsidence in the lowest-lying parts of these areas, local sea levels could rise more than 17 inches (45 centimeters) by 2050. That’s more than double the regional estimate of 7.4 inches (19 centimeters) based solely on tide gauge projections.
    Not all coastal locations in California are sinking. The researchers mapped uplift hot spots of several millimeters per year in the Santa Barbara groundwater basin, which has been steadily replenishing since 2018. They also observed uplift in Long Beach, where fluid extraction and injection occur with oil and gas production.
    The scientists further calculated how human-induced drivers of local land motion increase uncertainties in the sea level projections by up to 15 inches (40 centimeters) in parts of Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Reliable projections in these areas are challenging because the unpredictable nature of human activities, such as hydrocarbon production and groundwater extraction, necessitating ongoing monitoring of land motion.  
    Fluctuating Aquifers, Slow-Moving Landslides
    In the middle of California, in the fast-sinking parts of the Central Valley (subsiding as much as 8 inches, or 20 centimeters, per year), land motion is influenced by groundwater withdrawal. Periods of drought and precipitation can alternately draw down or inflate underground aquifers. Such fluctuations were also observed over aquifers in Santa Clara in the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Ana in Orange County, and Chula Vista in San Diego County.
    Along rugged coastal terrain like the Big Sur mountains below San Francisco and Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles, the team pinpointed local zones of downward motion associated with slow-moving landslides. In Northern California they also found sinking trends at marshlands and lagoons around San Francisco and Monterey bays, and in Sonoma County’s Russian River estuary. Erosion in these areas likely played a key factor.
    Scientists, decision-makers, and the public can monitor these and other changes occurring via the JPL-led OPERA (Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis) project. The OPERA project details land surface elevational changes across North America, shedding light on dynamic processes including subsidence, tectonics, and landslides.
    The OPERA project will leverage additional state-of-the-art InSAR data from the upcoming NISAR (NASA-Indian Space Research Organization Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission, expected to launch within the coming months.
    News Media Contacts
    Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
    Written by Sally Younger
    2025-015

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA to Host Housing Resource Fair Feb. 15 in Augusta

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency 2

    EMA is hosting a Housing Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 15, in Augusta at the following location:
    Henry Brigham Community Center
    2463 Golden Camp Rd. C, 
    Augusta, GA 30906
    The Housing Resource Fair will bring together federal, state and local agencies in one place to offer services and resources to families recovering from Hurricane Helene.  
    The goal of this collaborative effort is to help connect eligible disaster survivors with affordable housing along with valuable information and resources on their road to recovery.
    Survivors will meet with local housing organizations, property owners and landlords, as well as gain information on the HEARTS Georgia Sheltering Program, and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.
    The Housing Resource Fair is an opportunity for survivors to: 

    Explore affordable housing options and rental assistance programs.
    Meet with representatives from local housing organizations, landlords and property managers.
    Gain access to resources for displaced individuals and families.
    Learn about community partners that will provide educational funding resources to attendees. 

    For FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Wallace, the Housing Resource Fair will give survivors that needed one-on-one experience: “We want survivors to know we are here for them and want to see the best outcome, which is moving into safe, sanitary and functioning housing,” he said. “We will walk them through their options to ensure they are aware of the resources that are available to fit their need.”
    Anyone who was affected by Tropical Storm Debby or Hurricane Helene, whether they have applied for FEMA assistance or not, is welcome to attend.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Euclid Discovers Einstein Ring in Our Cosmic Backyard

    Source: NASA

    Euclid, an ESA (European Space Agency) mission with NASA contributions, has made a surprising discovery in our cosmic backyard: a phenomenon called an Einstein ring.
    An Einstein ring is light from a distant galaxy bending to form a ring that appears aligned with a foreground object. The name honors Albert Einstein, whose general theory of relativity predicts that light will bend and brighten around objects in space.
    In this way, particularly massive objects like galaxies and galaxy clusters serve as cosmic magnifying glasses, bringing even more distant objects into view. Scientists call this gravitational lensing.
    Euclid Archive Scientist Bruno Altieri noticed a hint of an Einstein ring among images from the spacecraft’s early testing phase in September 2023.
    “Even from that first observation, I could see it, but after Euclid made more observations of the area, we could see a perfect Einstein ring,” Altieri said. “For me, with a lifelong interest in gravitational lensing, that was amazing.”
    The ring appears to encircle the center of a well-studied elliptical galaxy called NGC 6505, which is around 590 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. That may sound far, but on the scale of the entire universe, NGC 6505 is close by. Thanks to Euclid’s high-resolution instruments, this is the first time that the ring of light surrounding the galaxy has been detected.  
    Light from a much more distant bright galaxy, some 4.42 billion light-years away, creates the ring in the image. Gravity distorted this light as it traveled toward us. This faraway galaxy hasn’t been observed before and doesn’t yet have a name. 
    “An Einstein ring is an example of strong gravitational lensing,” explained Conor O’Riordan, of the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Germany, and lead author of the first scientific paper analyzing the ring. “All strong lenses are special, because they’re so rare, and they’re incredibly useful scientifically. This one is particularly special, because it’s so close to Earth and the alignment makes it very beautiful.” 
    Einstein rings are a rich laboratory for scientists to explore many mysteries of the universe. For example, an invisible form of matter called dark matter contributes to the bending of light into a ring, so this is an indirect way to study dark matter. Einstein rings are also relevant to the expansion of the universe because the space between us and these galaxies — both in the foreground and the background — is stretching. Scientists can also learn about the background galaxy itself.
    “I find it very intriguing that this ring was observed within a well-known galaxy, which was first discovered in 1884,” said Valeria Pettorino, ESA Euclid project scientist. “The galaxy has been known to astronomers for a very long time. And yet this ring was never observed before. This demonstrates how powerful Euclid is, finding new things even in places we thought we knew well. This discovery is very encouraging for the future of the Euclid mission and demonstrates its fantastic capabilities.” 

    By exploring how the universe has expanded and formed over its cosmic history, Euclid will reveal more about the role of gravity and the nature of dark energy and dark matter. Dark energy is the mysterious force that appears to be causing the universe’s expansion. The space telescope will map more than a third of the sky, observing billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years. It is expected to find around 100,000 strong gravitational lenses.  
    “Euclid is going to revolutionize the field with all this data we’ve never had before,” added O’Riordan.  
    Although finding this Einstein ring is an achievement, Euclid must look for a different, less visually obvious type of gravitational lensing called “weak lensing” to help fulfil its quest of understanding dark energy. In weak lensing, background galaxies appear only mildly stretched or displaced. To detect this effect, scientists will need to analyze billions of galaxies.
    Euclid launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, July 1, 2023, and began its detailed survey of the sky Feb. 14, 2024. The mission is gradually creating the most extensive 3D map of the universe yet. The Einstein ring find so early in its mission indicates Euclid is on course to uncover many more secrets of the universe. 
    More About Euclid
    Euclid is a European mission, built and operated by ESA, with contributions from NASA. The Euclid Consortium — consisting of more than 2,000 scientists from 300 institutes in 15 European countries, the United States, Canada, and Japan — is responsible for providing the scientific instruments and scientific data analysis. ESA selected Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor for the construction of the satellite and its service module, with Airbus Defence and Space chosen to develop the payload module, including the telescope. Euclid is a medium-class mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision Programme.
    Three NASA-supported science teams contribute to the Euclid mission. In addition to designing and fabricating the sensor-chip electronics for Euclid’s Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) instrument, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory led the procurement and delivery of the NISP detectors as well. Those detectors, along with the sensor chip electronics, were tested at NASA’s Detector Characterization Lab at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Euclid NASA Science Center at IPAC (ENSCI), at Caltech in Pasadena, California, will archive the science data and support U.S.-based science investigations. JPL is a division of Caltech.
    Media Contacts
    Elizabeth LandauHeadquarters, Washington202-358-0845elandau@nasa.gov
    Calla CofieldJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-808-2469calla.e.cofield@jpl.nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 10.02.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Stock Exchange Release
    10 February 2025 at 22:30 EET

    Nokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 10.02.2025

    Espoo, Finland – On 10 February 2025 Nokia Corporation (LEI: 549300A0JPRWG1KI7U06) has acquired its own shares (ISIN FI0009000681) as follows:

    Trading venue (MIC Code) Number of shares Weighted average price / share, EUR*
    XHEL 1,400,000 4.72
    CEUX – –
    BATE – –
    AQEU – –
    TQEX – –
    Total 1,400,000 4.72

    * Rounded to two decimals

    On 22 November 2024, Nokia announced that its Board of Directors is initiating a share buyback program to offset the dilutive effect of new Nokia shares issued to the shareholders of Infinera Corporation and certain Infinera Corporation share-based incentives. The repurchases in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and under the authorization granted by Nokia’s Annual General Meeting on 3 April 2024 started on 25 November 2024 and end by 31 December 2025 and target to repurchase 150 million shares for a maximum aggregate purchase price of EUR 900 million.

    Total cost of transactions executed on 10 February 2025 was EUR 6,611,080. After the disclosed transactions, Nokia Corporation holds 243,703,874 treasury shares.

    Details of transactions are included as an appendix to this announcement.

    On behalf of Nokia Corporation

    BofA Securities Europe SA

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Georgia Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Nehmiah Allen-Griggs, also known as “Newski,” 23, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced today to ten years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Allen-Griggs admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 1, 2023, Allen-Griggs distributed approximately 1 pound of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in a Huntington parking lot in exchange for $2,000.

    On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Highlawn Avenue residence in Huntington and seized quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, a Landor Arms Canyon Arms 12-gauge shotgun, a Walther P22 .22-caliber pistol equipped with a silencer, a Kel-Teck .22-caliber pistol, and various rounds of ammunition. Allen-Griggs admitted that he and others used the residence to store and distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

    Allen-Griggs is among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia.

    Allen-Griggs is also among 22 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

    United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.

    The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.

    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. 3:23-cr-180.

    ###

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Next REGI meeting : 19 February 2025 – Committee on Regional Development

    Source: European Parliament

     

    The Committee on Regional Development will hold its next meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, 19 February from 09:15-12:30 and 14:30-18:30.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Karin Keller-Sutter welcomes Holocaust survivors

    Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English

    On 10 February 2025, some 80 years after the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp, President Karin Keller-Sutter welcomed around 60 survivors of the Holocaust and Nazi oppression who made Switzerland their new home to a lunch at the Bernerhof in Bern. The liberation of Auschwitz symbolises the liberation of all the other concentration camps.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Effectiveness of the steel safeguard measure – P-002868/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission recognises that the EU steel sector is currently facing a challenging situation, given the contraction in EU demand for steel and growing global overcapacity.

    Against this background, the Commission has initiated a review of the EU steel safeguard measure on 17 December 2024, following a request from 13 Member States.

    The investigation will assess whether adjustments to the safeguard would be appropriate to bring short-term relief to EU steel industry in the current market reality. Any decision resulting from this investigation may become applicable as of 1 April 2025, at the start of a new quota quarter.

    The Commission will indeed consider various options for adjusting the measure. The precise adjustments that would be most effective in addressing specific challenges will be determined during the investigation.

    The steel safeguards will expire in mid-2026. The Commission is reflecting, together with stakeholders, on a follow-up solution to provide the necessary protection to the EU’s steel industry.

    As announced in the political guidelines 2024-2029[1] and in the Competitiveness Compass[2], the Commission will adopt a Steel and Metals Action Plan, outlining actions on several policy areas, including trade related, which would also help improve the competitiveness of the EU steel industry.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en
    • [2] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/10017eb1-4722-4333-add2-e0ed18105a34_en
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Largest autopsy-based study on COVID-19 vaccines – E-002597/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. As the Commission noted in its reply to Question E-003117/2023[1], ‘the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and national authorities evaluate data on reported events in EudraVigilance[2] to determine if there is any signal indicating causality and take action as appropriate’. EMA and national authorities closely monitor emerging data and will take regulatory action if new evidence indicates any causal relationship.

    2. The Commission relies on EMA to continuously monitor the COVID-19 vaccine safety assessing all available data, including EudraVigilance reports, scientific literature, and studies[3]. EMA has reviewed the study mentioned in the Honourable Member’s letter and concluded that, given the methodological limitations of the study- which was withdrawn from a scientific journal because of serious concerns about its quality- considers no action necessary at this stage.

    3. The Commission considers safety a core requirement for all vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines used in the EU have undergone EMA’s rigorous scientific assessment. Information on risks, including rare side effects, are publicly available in resources such as product information[4], the European Public Assessment Reports[5], and periodic safety update reports (PSURs)[6], which are regularly updated to keep healthcare professionals and patients informed. When necessary to ensure vaccine safety regulatory actions are taken in accordance with the applicable legislation.

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-003117-ASW_EN.html
    • [2] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/research-development/pharmacovigilance-research-development/eudravigilance
    • [3] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/marketing-authorisation/pharmacovigilance-marketing-authorisation/risk-management/risk-management-plans
    • [4] https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/index_en.htm
    • [5] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/what-we-publish-medicines-when/european-public-assessment-reports-background-context
    • [6] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/pharmacovigilance-post-authorisation/periodic-safety-update-reports-psurs
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Controversial dental tourism to non-EU countries – E-002389/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission recognises that many EU citizens seek medical and dental treatments abroad, driven by cost differences or limited public coverage of costs in their home countries.

    To monitor this trend, the Commission collects annual data on patient mobility within EU/ European Economic Area (EEA) countries.

    It is important to note that data from non-EU countries are not included in these reports. The data are broadly categorised into planned and unplanned treatments; however, they do not provide specific disaggregation for dental treatments. For further details, the last available report is accessible online[1].

    Cross-border healthcare within the EU is governed by Directive 2011/24/EU[2] and the Social Security Coordination Regulations[3]. These legislative frameworks address key aspects such as treatment, reimbursement, patient safety, and liability issues.

    However, they do not apply to healthcare services outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, except for the United Kingdom, where social security provisions similar to the regulations apply thanks to the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

    The Commission has no legal framework for healthcare services accessed outside the EU or EEA countries, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

    Citizens are strongly advised to consult their respective National Contact Points (NCPs) designated at the national level in accordance with Directive 2011/24/EU[4].

    The NCPs can provide information to the patients about their rights to cross-border healthcare, including conditions for reimbursement and procedural requirements, such as the authorisation process for planned treatments and applicable tariffs, among others.

    • [1] https://health.ec.europa.eu/latest-updates/data-cross-border-patient-healthcare-following-directive-201124eu-reference-year-2022-2024-04-19_en
    • [2] http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/24/oj
    • [3] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/moving-working-europe/eu-social-security-coordination/frequently-asked-questions/faq-social-security-regulations_en
    • [4] http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/24/oj

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Billionaires’ companies benefiting from Common Agricultural Policy subsidies – E-002644/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    A decades-long farm consolidation is part of a deeper trend observed in major market-based economies, including the EU, driven by a combination of factors, such as economies of scale, technological advancements, access to capital, as well as demographic trends.

    The Guardian article grossly overestimates the amounts received by the largest Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) recipients. The Eurostat Farm Structure Survey shows that the average physical farm size of Portuguese farms increased from 12.6 ha in 2007 to 13.7 ha in 2020 (+8.2%), while the EU-27 average farm size increased from 11.6 ha to 17.1 ha over the same period (+ 47.5%).

    Regarding distribution of direct payments in Portugal, in 2022, the 20% largest beneficiaries (by the amount of payment) received 80% of direct payments.

    However, these 20% largest beneficiaries were farming 87% of the land. Yet in 2015, the 20% largest beneficiaries received 84% of direct payments and farmed 86% of land.

    Thus, the concentration of direct payments slightly decreased between 2015 and 2022, despite the fact that the concentration of land has increased.

    This shows the first results of the current redistribution mechanisms, including a redistributive payment (CRISS) and an increase of the payment under the Small Farmers Scheme (SFS). Under the current CAP, Portugal allocated a total of EUR 348.6 million to CRISS. A total of EUR 319.5 million was allocated to SFS.

    Lastly, the Commission recently proposed to strengthen the position of farmers in the food supply chain, both via the common market Organisation and the new Unfair Trading Practices cross border enforcement regulations.

    The CAP post-2027 will further consider how to better target the distribution of the CAP funds.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Question to the Commission on the Scala Coeli (CS) landfill case – E-002756/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The competent authority may only authorise a landfill site if strict environmental and health requirements of the Landfill Directive[1] are complied with. T he characteristics of the site, or the corrective measures to be taken, shall indicate that the landfill does not pose a serious environmental risk[2]. The location of the landfill must take into consideration requirements relating to e.g. distance to residential and recreation areas, waterways, water bodies, agricultural or urban sites; the existence of groundwater, coastal water or nature protection zones in the area; the geological and hydrogeological conditions in the area; and the risk of flooding, subsidence, landslides or avalanches on the site[3]. Regional waste policy and measures to improve environmentally sound waste management are set out in the Calabria Region’s waste management plan of March 2024 established under the Waste Framework Directive[4].

    2. As a result of the recently revised Industrial Emissions Directive[5], Best Available Techniques reference documents will be developed for landfills, starting mid-2025.

    3. Member States have a primary responsibility to monitor the application of the relevant legal provisions and to take the necessary steps for enforcement. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission monitors the situation and may decide to take appropriate action. The Commission aims to swiftly follow up on systemic issues involving the application of EU law in EU countries. However, one-off instances of this are better dealt with at national level, as long as there are available remedies, including judicial ones. In these cases, it is up to the national courts to apply and enforce rights under EU law[6].

    • [1] Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste, OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1-19, amended by Directive (EU) 2018/850 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 100-108.
    • [2] Annex I, Section 1.2 and Article 8 of the Landfill Directive.
    • [3] Annex I, Section 1.1 of the Landfill Directive.
    • [4] Article 28-33 of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109-140.
    • [5] Directive (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 April 2024 amending Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) and Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste, OJ L, 2024/1785, 15.7.2024.
    • [6] As set out in the communication of 19 January 2017 (EU law: Better results through better application — C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10-20) and in the communication of 13 October 2022 (COM(2022) 518 final — Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers).
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Consequences of the digital euro for financial stability and individual freedoms – E-002634/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission proposal on a digital euro[1] takes the possible impact on financial stability and individual freedoms very seriously and proposes effective safeguards.

    The proposal aims to preserve financial stability in normal and crisis times. The digital euro is envisaged primarily as a means of payment rather than a store of value.

    Accordingly, the European Central Bank (ECB) would be required to develop tools to limit the digital euro’s store of value function, i.e. via limits on individual digital euro holdings, which the ECB could adapt over time to evolving circumstances.

    These holding limits together with the zero interest rates and the payment function without actual holdings in digital euro (so called reverse waterfall mechanism) would limit the shift of commercial bank deposits to digital euro and thus mitigate the risk of bank disintermediation, protecting financial stability and the provision of credit by commercial banks.

    The proposal also clearly and transparently limits and frames the processing of personal data related to the digital euro. This ensures full respect of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)[2], including the principles of data minimisation and purpose limitation[3]. A user would be identified in line with EU anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing rules[4].

    The ECB would not have access to a user’s identity. The pseudonymisation foreseen in the proposal aims to ensure that users cannot be identifiable based on data patterns.

    The proposal ensures that neither the ECB nor payment service providers would have access to data related to offline transactions as these would be settled directly between users. Offline transactions would therefore give users a level of privacy comparable to cash.

    • [1]  COM/2023/369 final.
    • [2]  OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1-88.
    • [3] Member State data protection authorities established under the GDPR will be responsible for the supervision of processing of personal data related to the digital euro as well as under the European Union Data Protection Regulation (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39-98).
    • [4] https://finance.ec.europa.eu/financial-crime/anti-money-laundering-and-countering-financing-terrorism-eu-level_en
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Checking the conformity of the cohesion agreement signed between the Italian Government and Puglia Region with the EU’s guidelines on territorial cohesion – E-002874/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Commission has been informed by the competent national authorities of the signature on 29 November 2024 of the cohesion agreement between the Italian Government and the Apulia. Given that the agreement concerns exclusively national and regional authorities and refers to national programmes (Development and Cohesion Fund programmes) and national financing instruments (Development and Cohesion Fund), the Member State is solely competent to manage and control the implementation of these initiatives, with reference to the consistency with the national legal framework.

    2. The integration and complementarity of nationally funded activities with EU regional programmes is ensured by the managing authority of the Apulia regional programme, as indicated in the programme approved by EU decision. The management and control system set up by the regional authorities is adequate to avoid any risk of overlapping and double funding.

    3. The Commission considers that the current EU cohesion policy regulatory framework is sufficient to ensure consistency between European and national programmes.

    Last updated: 10 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Combating attacks on artistic freedom – E-002771/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU enshrines the fundamental right to the freedom of the arts. According to its Article 13(1), ‘the arts and scientific research shall be free of constraint’[1].

    The Charter also safeguards the freedom of expression (Article 11) and cultural diversity (Articles 11 and 22), which are integral to artistic freedom.

    Freedom of expression, which includes freedom of artistic expression, is a core EU value and crucial for democratic societies. The Commission attaches great importance to it.

    Responsibility for cultural policy and legislation lies with the Member States. Nonetheless, the Commission works closely with them to facilitate mutual learning and cooperation, share best policy and practice, and address common challenges in this field.

    The Commission works with Member States in addressing threats to cultural diversity and artistic freedoms, through such initiatives as the Creative Europe programme[2], which offers funding and support to cultural institutions and initiatives that promote cultural diversity, inclusion, and freedom of expression; the EU Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026[3], which recognises artistic freedom as a fundamental part of cultural work, and the protection of artistic freedom as an essential element for strengthening the link between culture and democracy.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/char_2012/oj/eng
    • [2] https://culture.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022G1207(01)
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – EU funds for Austria following the disastrous flooding in September 2024 – P-002207/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Commission adopted on 21 October 2024 its proposal RESTORE — Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction[1].

    It provides flexibilities with regards to cohesion policy resources to support Member States affected by unprecedented climate-related disasters.

    Member States affected by natural disasters that have occurred since 1 January 2024 will be able to allocate an amount not exceeding 10% of their European Social Fund Plus and European Regional Development Fund national allocations to support reconstruction and repair measures and to alleviate the negative consequences of such disasters. Member States will benefit from additional pre-financing and high EU co-financing rate. The co-legislators reached an agreement and the amending act entered into force on 24 December 2024.

    It will be up to Austria to decide how best to make use of the flexibilities and how much funding to redirect to tackle the effects of the floods. The EU Solidarity Fund can also be activated at the request of Austria within 12 weeks as from when the first damage occurred.

    2. + 3. The President of the Commission made a public announcement on 19 September 2024 in Wroclaw informing that around EUR 10 billion cohesion policy resources could be mobilised with higher pre-financing and 100% co-financing for the regions affected by the floods.

    • [1] This is a proposal for a regulationa regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1058 on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund and Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) (COM(2024) 496).
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Speeding up procedures and increasing EU financial assistance to respond to natural disasters in the Member States – E-002796/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is a post-disaster instrument which provides financial assistance to EU countries facing severe natural disasters according to the specific rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002[1]. The EUSF financial assistance is intended to supplement the country’s public expenditure to finance essential emergency and recovery operations. It is not a rapid response instrument. The disbursement of financial assistance requires per application the prior mobilisation of the fund by the European Parliament and the Council, which can take several months.

    2. Recognising the challenge, the Commission proposed a substantial financial reinforcement of the EUSF in the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)[2]. The budgetary authority decided to increase the Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve by EUR 1.5 billion for the years 2024-2027.

    The EUSF now has an annual budget of EUR 1 016 million[3] (in 2018 prices).

    The EUSF aid calculation methodology was established in 2003 and accepted by the European Parliament and the Council. Changes to the methodology would need to be aligned to the available budgetary resources of the Fund.

    In the preparation of the next MFF, the Commission will carefully assess the operation of the EUSF and reflect how to best deliver on the EUSF’s objectives in the future.

    • [1] Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund (OJ L 311, 14.11.2002, p. 3) as amended by Regulation (EU) No 661/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council of 15 May 2014 (OJ L 189, 27.6.2014, p. 143) and by Regulation (EU) 2020/461 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 March 2020 (OJ L 99, 31.3.2020, p. 9). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32002R2012
    • [2] Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 of 29 February 2024 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027.
    • [3] EUR 1 144.1 million in 2024 prices.
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Use of deep fakes to defame people standing for public office – E-001917/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Protecting democratic processes and values, including the right to stand for public office, is a priority for the Commission.

    In addition, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act[1], prohibits certain manipulative or deceptive uses of AI technologies that are likely to cause significant harm[2].

    It also imposes transparency obligations on providers and deployers of AI systems generating deep fake contents[3]. Violations are sanctioned by administrative fines.

    However, deepfakes are not criminalised as such by the AI Act, which is a product safety legislation.

    The Commission Recommendation on inclusive and resilient elections (EU) 2023/2829, adopted as part of the 2023 Defence of Democracy package, highlights the highest democratic standards in elections.

    This recommendation also addresses different challenges to the election information environment, including so called ‘deep fakes’, as a vector of disinformation.

    It also encourages political parties and campaign organisations to adopt campaign pledges and codes of conduct on election integrity and fair campaigning.

    In these, political parties and campaigning organisations should commit to refrain from producing, using or disseminating falsified, fabricated, doxed or stolen data or material, including deep fakes generated by artificial intelligence systems.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1689.
    • [2] Article 5(1)a) of the AI Act. This provision will apply from 2 February 2025.
    • [3] Article 50(2) and (4) of the AI Act. This provision will apply from 2 August 2026.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Protecting consumers when making digital transactions and improving their awareness – E-002635/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Following the Digital Fairness Fitness Check report[1] published on 3 October 2024, the Commission will develop a Digital Fairness Act to address the identified consumer protection issues in the online environment, such as termination of subscription contracts, automatic renewal of subscriptions and conversion of free trials into paid subscriptions.

    The specific options will be developed and assessed in an impact assessment. The Commission services are currently preparing a public consultation and impact assessment, to be conducted in 2025, ahead of a possible legislative proposal.

    The Commission is also committed to improving awareness and understanding of the rights of European consumers through several initiatives.

    The ConsumerPro[2] initiative is a capacity-building project with training programmes covering a wide range of topics, aimed at making consumer organisations and other actors in consumer policy better-equipped to protect and assist consumers.

    The Consumer Education Hub[3] website is a repository of hundreds of educational materials and resources collected during two research studies carried out by the Commission in 2021-2022.

    They can be used by all actors working in consumer education/advice and awareness raising. In 2024, the Commission launched a call for proposals[4] to provide financial support to initiatives and projects aimed at improving consumer education and awareness raising. Proposals selected for EU funding will be announced in Q1 2025.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13413-Digital-fairness-fitness-check-on-EU-consumer-law_en
    • [2] https://www.beuc.eu/consumer-pro-boosting-professionals-consumer-protection
    • [3] https://consumer-education.eu/
    • [4] https://eismea.ec.europa.eu/funding-opportunities/calls-proposals/call-proposals-action-grants-support-consumer-education-awareness-raising-and-local-advice-consumers_en
    Last updated: 10 February 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Competition among protein-based COVID-19 vaccines – E-002695/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The availability of COVID-19 protein-based vaccines is primarily determined by clinical development priorities of vaccine developers. Neither the Commission nor the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have control over this aspect.

    EU regulators, including EMA, assess the scientific evidence submitted by developers in the context of a marketing authorisation application.

    While they can provide guidance on vaccines development, the actual production of such products ultimately depends on the companies developing them.

    As regards COVID-19 vaccines, Comirnaty and Spikevax (mRNA-based) and Nuvaxovid and Bimervax (protein-based) are authorised in the EU.

    For the autumn 2024 COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, EMA issued a statement[1] and the Commission authorised adapted mRNA vaccines (Comirnaty JN.1, Comirnaty KP.2 and Spikevax JN.1) and an adapted protein-based vaccine (Nuvaxovid JN.1).

    EMA is currently assessing an adapted Bimervax vaccine (JN.1). Overall, these vaccines are expected to also cover the emerging XEC variant.

    In principle, the Commission supports the availability of any type of COVID-19 vaccine following EMA’s recommendation on approval[2]. Vaccination policy is a national competence, and the Commission supports EU countries in coordinating their policies and programmes.

    In July 2024, the Commission and 15 countries launched a call for tender for the supply of protein-based COVID-19 vaccines under the Joint Procurement Agreement[3], offering an alternative option to citizens who cannot or do not want to receive a mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

    This call for tender targets producers of protein-based COVID-19 vaccines authorised for use in the EU. More information will be available after the closure of the procedure.

    • [1] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/other/ema-confirms-its-recommendation-update-antigenic-composition-authorised-covid-19-vaccines-2024-2025_en.pdf
    • [2] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/public-health-threats/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-19-medicines
    • [3] https://health.ec.europa.eu/health-security-and-infectious-diseases/preparedness-and-response-planning_en#joint-procurement-of-medical-countermeasures-ensuring-proper-preparedness

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Non-Governmental Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in Sri Lanka

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of non-governmental organizations on the situation of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, the report of which the Committee will review this week.

    The Committee will also review the reports of Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein this week, but there were no non-governmental organizations speaking on those countries.

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Sri Lanka raised concerns relating to discriminatory legislation, gender-based violence, and the treatment of sex workers, among other issues.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Sri Lanka: Women and Media Collective and Social Scientists Association; Women and Media Collective; 

    Suriya Women’s Development Centre; Centre for Equality and Justice; Sex Workers and Allies South Asia; Women’s Action Network; and Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, Equality Now.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 February to consider the fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize (CEDAW/C/BLZ/5-9). 

    Statement by Committee Chair 

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said this was the second opportunity during the present session for non-governmental organizations to provide information on States parties whose reports were being considered during the second week of the session, namely Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka and Liechtenstein.  It was regretful that non-governmental organizations from Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein were not present, but the presence of representatives from Sri Lanka was greatly appreciated.  The Committee greatly appreciated that they had travelled all the way to Geneva, as the information they provided was crucial.

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations from Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

    Speakers on Sri Lanka said the economic crisis which had engulfed the country since 2020 had exacerbated the economic rights of women there, compounding labour market inequalities, unpaid care work, the lack of comprehensive and inclusive social protection, and rural economic challenges.  Women’s labour force participation remained low at 32.1 per cent, with many employed in low-wage, insecure jobs in the informal sector as well as in the formal sector.  The gender pay gap remained high, with women earning 27 per cent less than men on average. Proposed labour law reforms promoting part-time and ‘flexible’ work risked further job insecurity for women. In the plantation sector, Malaiyaha Tamil women continued to experience intense labour exploitation and wage discrimination

    A speaker said that Sri Lanka must urgently abolish the centralised power in the office of the Executive President and enable a judicial review of legislation.  Despite international treaty obligations, several discriminatory laws persisted.  The Penal Code continued to criminalise consensual same sex relations and abortion. Statutory rape of married girls between the ages of 12 and 16 by their husbands was exempt.  Urgent legal reforms were therefore a priority.

    The Economic Transformation Act and the policy to create new economic zones without adequate protections for labour, land and local economic development was a serious concern.  The weak national action plan on women peace and security 2023-2027 needed to be revised.  The independent National Commission on Women needed to be established without delay.  Increasing women in decision making required urgent attention and the low representation of women in the new Cabinet was concerning.

    Gender based violence continued with impunity.  Protections, support services and judicial sensitivities under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act needed to be strengthened.  Technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence, a continuum of offline violence, was a fast-evolving form of violence against women. It was imperative that specific laws on technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence were included. Women sentenced to death faced intersectional discrimination.  As of 2024, 23 women were on death row.  It was vital that Sri Lanka regularly published disaggregated data regarding people charged with capital crimes.   

    While sex work was not criminalised, sex workers were arbitrarily arrested and subjected to violence under the vagrants and brothels ordinances.  Police violence and systemic discrimination against sex workers persisted, including through the vagrants ordinance.  In custody, sex workers were subjected to sexual bribery, forced sexually transmitted disease testing, physical violence, and prolonged detention. The practice of sexual bribery against sex workers continued with no consequence for the perpetrators.  A speaker urged the State to fulfil the Committee’s recommendation to repeal the vagrants ordinance and other provisions criminalising sex workers.

    In 2024, exam results of 70 advanced level Muslim students were withheld by the Department of Examinations because the girls’ hijabs covered their ears in violation of examination rules. Muslim women and girls were deprived of State protection under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act which had no minimum age of marriage, prevented women from signing marriage contracts, excluded Muslim women from becoming judges, prohibited two Muslims marrying under the general marriage registration ordinance, and allowed unconditional polygamy and non-registration of marriage.  It also contained unequal divorce provisions.  The bill which addressed these concerns needed to be enacted without delay.  In 2024, a study conducted across nine districts indicated that almost 50 per cent of Muslim women reported being victims of female genital mutilation, or knowing someone who was.  Victims of female genital mutilation in Sri Lanka were newborn girls after seven days, nine days, 15 days, 40 days and some at six to eight years.

    A speaker said the Penal Code only criminalised marital rape in the context of a married woman raped by her husband if she was judicially separated from him.  The Code needed to be amended to include marital rape in all circumstances. Several provisions in the personal laws discriminated against women, for example, the Thesawalamai law restricted Tamil women from disposing of separate property.  Women faced severe obstacles in accessing justice in family law: litigation costs were high; legal aid was limited; and there was a lack of gender-sensitivity among personnel in the justice sector.

    Comprehensive reform towards an effective and efficient family court system was imperative.  In the plantation communities, there was a lack of Tamil-speaking personnel in law enforcement.  Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were unable to access police as same-sex conduct was criminalised.  The State must ensure prompt, effective and adequate measures for access to justice for women, including from minorities and vulnerable groups.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked about the national action plan on women, peace and security which needed to be revised; what kind of revision was required?  What was the status of the Truth, Reconciliation and Non-Repetition Commission?  How was conflict-related sexual violence being addressed in this context?  What was the status of abortion, including data and access to safe abortion?

    Another Expert asked for the main factors which hindered women’s access to justice?   Could more information be provided on how to improve the impact of the National Women’s Council, the Human Rights Ministry, and other bodies? How could they improve their relationship with civil society organizations?   

    A Committee Expert asked about the economic reform, in view of women’s participation in the labour market?

    An Expert asked about women’s representation in political institutions.  Had quotas and their enforcement been successful?  Was technology-facilitated abuse prevalent for women in decision-making positions and did it act as a deterrence for their participation?

    Another Committee Expert asked about difficulties women experienced in transferring their citizenship to their children?  What measures were in place to ensure migrant women could regularise their position, and obtain identification documents? 

    An Expert asked if there was information available about the changes in the Penal Code concerning the explicit clarification of marital rape?  Were positive changes implemented concerning the law on domestic violence?

    Responses by Non-Governmental Organizations

    Sri Lanka

    Responding to questions on Sri Lanka, a speaker said access to justice was a difficult and lengthy process for victims of gender-based violence, particularly those in the Tamil area. This was due to stigma around reporting, and the lack of police officers near the plantation sector who could speak in the Tamil language.  Typically, the average court procedure took 17 years to complete one case, while the victims faced repeated victimisation.

    The reforms suggested aimed to increase women’s workforce participation through part-time and flexible work. However, there were concerns that the current leave provisions and other benefits would not be included.

    Abortion was considered illegal in Sri Lanka unless the life of the mother was at risk.  However, despite rules that any woman could seek post-abortion care, stigma prevented many women from accessing this option, and many women instead accessed abortion in unsafe and back-alley settings.

    There was no family court system in Sri Lanka and privacy of proceedings was not always guaranteed, nor was the best interest of the child.

    Obtaining identification documents remained challenging for sex workers.  Many sex workers did not possess identity documents or birth certificates, and were reluctant to seek assistance due to police harassment.  Not having these documents meant these women could not obtain legal documents which impacted their access to education. 

    Women in politics were among the primary victim survivors of technology-assisted gender-based violence, in the form of hate speech and degrading memes and images shared online. This was seen in the most recent election, with female candidates’ being targeted for their education, the way they dressed, and the way they spoke.  Women politicians who supported family law reforms faced social media attacks, and this included Sri Lanka’s female Prime Minister who was recently elected. Social media companies such as Meta had not taken down harmful content.

    A private members bill had been raised in the previous government regarding the amendment for allowing same sex marriage.  However, after a second reading the bill was not passed.  The Government was then dissolved, and a new Government was elected. There had been no updates to the amendment to the Penal Code regarding marital rape since March 2024.

    The last parliamentary elections in 2024 doubled the number of women in parliament without a quota.  However, a quota came into effect in 2018 for local authority elections.  Political parties were legally mandated now to ensure 25 per cent of women were represented in politics; however, no political party had nominated more than 10 per cent of women in seats.  It was hoped the State would move to parity and not stop at a limit of 35 per cent in relation to quotas.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue- Advancing India’s energy transition held in New Delhi today

    Source: Government of India

    Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue-   Advancing India’s energy transition held in New Delhi today

    Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power & Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme announced

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 8:44PM by PIB Delhi

    The Fourth India-UK Energy Dialogue, co-chaired by Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of Power and Housing and Urban Affairs of India, and Mr. Ed Miliband, Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero for United Kingdom, was held today in New Delhi.

    The dialogue focused on reviewing progress made in the energy sectors of both nations, including power and renewable energy, and reaffirming the commitment to a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future. The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring that the energy transition and economic growth proceed together, while maintaining affordable and clean energy access for all.

    The Ministers underscored the importance of ensuring energy security and sustainable development and emphasized expanding the cooperation in the areas of power distribution, sector reforms, industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonization, and electric mobility while exploring new opportunities in the emerging fields such as energy storage, green data centers, and offshore wind, with an increased focus on MSMEs.

    The Ministers were pleased to announce the launch of Phase-2 of the India-UK bilateral Accelerating Smart Power & Renewable Energy in India (ASPIRE) programme. This phase will aim to provide technical support for ensuring round-the-clock power supply, expanding renewable energy initiatives, and accelerating industrial energy efficiency and de-carbonization, in collaboration with the Ministry of Power (MOP) and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

    The Ministers were pleased to observe the bilateral collaboration between the two sides to promote growth and jobs, through technical assistance cooperation and investment.  They also discussed the progress of trade missions focusing on offshore wind and green hydrogen, as well as the cooperation between the UK’s Energy Systems Catapult and India’s Power Trading Corporation.

    Recognizing the shared ambition for advancing offshore wind development, the Ministers announced the establishment of a UK-India Offshore Wind Taskforce, which will focus on advancing offshore wind ecosystem development, supply chains, and financing models in both countries.  Mr. Miliband commended India’s ambitious initiatives in the renewable energy sector and shown a strong interest in gaining insights from India’s experience in implementing the Solar Rooftop Programme (PM – Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna).

    The Ministers agreed on the importance of power market regulations in driving the energy transition and ensuring greater energy security and access. To support this, they announced the continuation of the Power Sector Reforms programme under the UK Partnering for Accelerating Climate Change (UKPACT). Additionally, a new taskforce has been proposed between the UK’s Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) to support renewable energy integration and grid transformation in India.

    Both Ministers emphasized the ongoing value of the India-UK Energy Dialogue in advancing mutual energy transition goals, ensuring energy access, and building secure and sustainable clean energy supply chains while aligning these efforts with economic growth.

    The Ministers expressed their intention to further strengthen their collaboration through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and looked forward to the fifth UK-India Energy Dialogue in 2026. The dialogue concluded with the launch of the ‘Best Practices Compendium of Industrial Energy Efficiency/Decarbonisation’ and a ‘Pathways for Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation in the Indian Aluminium Sector’.

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    JN/ SK

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mahakumbh 2025: Over 7 Lakh Pilgrims treated at Prayagraj; Experts from AIIMS and BHU join forces with Specialists from Canada, Germany, Russia

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Mahakumbh 2025: Over 7 Lakh Pilgrims treated at Prayagraj; Experts from AIIMS and BHU join forces with Specialists from Canada, Germany, Russia

    World-Class Treatment with Allopathy and AYUSH Medicine in place; 23 Allopathic and 20 AYUSH Hospitals in Operation

    3,800 Minor and 12 Major Surgeries Completed, 3.71 Lakh Pilgrims underwent Pathology Tests

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 7:13PM by PIB Delhi

    The health of pilgrims is being given top priority at the Mahakumbh 2025, and the Mela administration has ensured extensive medical arrangements are in place. From common ailments to specialized treatments, comprehensive healthcare facilities are available. So far, over 7 lakh pilgrims have been treated. To make the healthcare services world-class, specialists from Canada, Germany, Russia, along with doctors from AIIMS Delhi and IMS BHU, are working tirelessly on the ground.

    Dr. Gaurav Dubey, the nodal medical officer of the Kumbh Mela, shared that more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims have been treated at 23 allopathic hospitals, and over 3.71 lakh pilgrims have undergone pathology tests. Additionally, more than 3,800 minor surgeries and 12 major surgeries have been successfully completed.

    Over 2.18 Lakh Pilgrims Treated with AYUSH Medicine

    With the collaboration of the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, and Uttar Pradesh AYUSH Society, 20 AYUSH hospitals (10 Ayurveda and 10 Homeopathy) are operating 24/7 in the Kumbh Mela area. To date, over 2.18 lakh pilgrims have benefited from Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy treatments. Specialists from AIIMS Ayurveda, Delhi, including Dr. V.K. Joshi, Dean of BHU, Dr. Thomas from Canada, and many other medical experts from around the world, are treating pilgrims at the Kumbh Mela.

    Pilgrims Benefiting from Yoga, Panchakarma, and Ayurvedic Treatments

    At the Ayurvedic hospitals in the Kumbh Mela, pilgrims are being treated with traditional methods like Panchakarma, herbal-based treatments, yoga therapy, and naturopathy. AYUSH kits, yoga kits, calendars, medicinal plants, and health awareness materials are being distributed to help pilgrims adopt a healthier lifestyle in the future. Yoga sessions are regularly conducted by teams of yoga instructors from New Delhi, and these sessions have gained significant interest, especially from foreign pilgrims.

    Special Ayurvedic ‘Swarnaprashan’ Medicine for Children

    For children aged 1 to 12 years, special Ayurvedic ‘Swarnaprashan’ medicine is being administered, distributed during the Pushya Nakshatra. This medicine is proving beneficial in enhancing children’s concentration, intelligence, immunity, and physical development.

    Multidimensional Medical Facilities Become a Major Attraction for Pilgrims

    The combined arrangement of Allopathy and AYUSH medicine at the Kumbh Mela is proving to be a great relief for pilgrims. High-quality healthcare services are being provided free of charge to sadhus, kalpavasis, and common pilgrims. The integration of Ayurveda, yoga, Panchakarma, and modern medical science has set a new standard for healthcare services at the Kumbh Mela.

    It has been ensured that the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 will not only be a center for spiritual experiences but also an exemplary event in terms of health and well-being. The health services being offered to pilgrims are being appreciated both nationally and internationally, giving global recognition to the Indian medical system.

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    AD/VM

    (Release ID: 2101469) Visitor Counter : 50

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India and EFTA Strengthen Economic Ties with the Inauguration of the India-EFTA Desk

    Source: Government of India

    India and EFTA Strengthen Economic Ties with the Inauguration of the India-EFTA Desk

    India-EFTA Desk will function as a single-window mechanism to provide support to EFTA businesses looking to invest, expand, or establish operations in India

    Business Roundtable Witnessed Participation from Over 100 Companies from India and EFTA Nations

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 6:27PM by PIB Delhi

    India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – have taken a significant step towards deeper economic collaboration with the inauguration of the India-EFTA Desk. This initiative follows the recently concluded India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which positions EFTA as the first European bloc to formalize a trade pact with India. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal hailed TEPA as a landmark agreement, emphasizing India’s growing role in global trade. “This desk will serve as the bridge between businesses on both sides, ensuring transparency, trust, and ease of doing business,” he stated. He underscored India’s ambition to surpass $100 billion in EFTA investments, highlighting the country’s commitment to fostering equitable and mutually beneficial trade relationships.

    The India-EFTA Desk will provide structured support to EFTA businesses looking to invest, expand, or establish operations in India. High-ranking dignitaries from all four EFTA nations attended the launch, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening economic ties.

    Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Ms. Helene Budliger Artieda, described TEPA as a “new chapter for investment promotion and cooperation,” citing over CHF 10 billion in Swiss FDI that has created 146,000+ jobs in India, particularly in manufacturing. She projected a surge in investments across precision industries, chemicals, food processing, and pharmaceuticals, suggesting that an Invest India office in Switzerland could further drive investment flows.

    Norway’s State Secretary of Trade and Industry, Mr. Tomas Norvoll, likened TEPA to an airport, with the EFTA Desk serving as the landing strip for businesses. He noted that Norwegian companies in India have doubled in the last decade, with sovereign wealth fund assets reaching $31.4 billion.

    Iceland’s Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Martin Eyjolfsson, called TEPA “the most significant trade agreement EFTA has signed in decades,” reinforcing India’s role as a key economic partner for Europe. He highlighted growing cooperation in renewable energy, seafood, and pharmaceuticals, positioning TEPA as a stabilizing force amid global economic uncertainty.

    Liechtenstein’s Minister of External Affairs, Education, and Sport, Ms. Dominique Hasler, emphasized the Desk’s role in facilitating high-value manufacturing and innovation-driven industries. She pointed to Hilti’s success in India and expressed optimism that TEPA would encourage more Liechtenstein-based firms to expand.

    The India-EFTA Desk will drive investment in renewable energy, life sciences, engineering, and digital transformation. Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, noted that TEPA will spur joint ventures, SME collaborations, and technology partnerships, with the Desk streamlining regulatory navigation for EFTA businesses.

    Union Minister of State, Shri Jitin Prasada, highlighted EFTA’s strategic importance to India’s development goals, citing Norway’s expertise in green shipping, Switzerland’s advancements in rail networks, Iceland’s leadership in geothermal energy, and Liechtenstein’s high-value manufacturing. He also pointed to research collaborations between IITs and the Arctic University of Norway, demonstrating TEPA’s broader scope beyond trade.

    Following the Desk’s inauguration, a high-level Business Roundtable chaired by Shri Piyush Goyal convened to explore opportunities and address trade challenges. Discussions identified key sectors, including seafood & maritime, energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and food processing.

    Looking ahead, the India-EFTA Desk will serve as the primary channel for fostering continuous business-government dialogue. The Indian government has pledged to work closely with EFTA partners to unlock TEPA’s full potential. Concluding the discussions, Shri Piyush Goyal called TEPA a “model agreement” and reaffirmed India’s readiness to build a robust future with EFTA, stating: “India is ready when you are. Let’s build this future together.”

    With the official inauguration of the EFTA Desk, India and EFTA have entered a new era of economic cooperation, ensuring that businesses from both regions thrive in an era of sustainable and innovation-driven growth.

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    Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

    (Release ID: 2101431) Visitor Counter : 65

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh exhorts global OEMs to use the opportunities offered by the Indian defence ecosystem to find solutions to today’s challenges

    Source: Government of India

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh exhorts global OEMs to use the opportunities offered by the Indian defence ecosystem to find solutions to today’s challenges

    Stresses on the need to adopt & improve solutions constantly amidst the fragile global security situation

    “Govt is taking all steps to equip the Armed Forces & make the nation ‘Aatmanirbhar’ in defence”

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 5:30PM by PIB Delhi

    Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has invited the global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to utilise the opportunities offered by the expanding Indian defence ecosystem and find targeted solutions & counter measures to the challenges emerging due to the volatile geopolitical landscape of today. He was addressing the CEOs Roundtable organised as part of Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 10, 2025. Raksha Mantri stated that amidst the fragile global security situation, where rules-based order is being challenged and technologies are creating new opportunities & vulnerabilities, there is a need to adopt & improve solutions constantly.

    “Today, the nature of communication and data sharing in military operations is getting much more complex. The reliance on space-based navigation systems, communication and surveillance implies that such assets would have to be integrated in our operational plans. The use of drones in recent conflicts indicate that the future would depend on the integrated efforts of manned, unmanned and autonomous warfare systems. Hence, our defence manufacturing has to focus on creating counter measures for these emerging challenges,” said Shri Rajnath Singh.

    Citing great Indian strategist Kautilya, Raksha Mantri said: “We have the moral responsibility to protect our people and territory in a hostile atmosphere. To achieve this, we are taking all necessary steps to equip our Armed Forces and making the country self-reliant in defence manufacturing through the establishment of a strong, efficient, resilient and future-ready defence industrial ecosystem,” he said.

    Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has put in place transparent & industry-friendly regulations, processes and policies. He emphasised that the opportunities provided by the Indian defence ecosystem are driven by the policies of self-reliance in defence production, facilitated by a conducive policy regime.

    Raksha Mantri enumerated the transformative steps taken by the Government to make the domestic defence industry an important component of the national economy in order to facilitate India’s transition from a developing to a developed country by 2047. “We have allowed FDI upto 75% through the Automatic Route for companies seeking new defence license, while upto 100% is also allowed under Government approval route. A total of 46 Joint Ventures and Companies have been given foreign investment approval in the defence sector till date,” he said.

    Shri Rajnath Singh added that more than 250 MoUs have, so far, been signed for the establishment of industrial units in the Defence Industrial Corridors set-up in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. He mentioned about the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme introduced to provide financial assistance to the Aerospace and Defence sector for setting up 6-8 greenfield Testing and Certification facilities. The Defence Exim Portal has made the export authorisation process seamless. “As a testimony to the emergence of India as a defence export nucleus, India has seen 31 times growth in the export of products in the last 10 years as compared to Financial Year 2013-14,” he said.

    Raksha Mantri described the issuance of Positive Indigenisation Lists as a clear indicator to the Government’s intent to support the industry in its self-reliance pursuit. He added that for innovation projects in the defence sector, over 500 start-ups & MSMEs are presently working under the aegis of Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX). “Our overall ease of doing business environment has improved tremendously. This is showing great results as India has the 3rd largest start-up ecosystem in the world today; this is expected to witness Year on Year growth of 10-12%. We possess a young generation of highly-skilled workforce, which constantly updates itself in the face of the fast-changing ecosystem of the world. You must not miss the opportunity to leverage the advantages of this ecosystem,” he told the over 100 CEOs, both domestic and foreign, present on the occasion.

    Shri Rajnath Singh described the CEOs Roundtable as a platform where the idea of making India self-reliant in defence production would take root, germinate and blossom into full scale reality. It reflects the serious intent of the Government to team with the best organisations around the world in the spirit of cooperation. The essence of this conclave is to explore how to join hands to make India a leading defence manufacturer and service provider at the global scale, he said.

    The theme of the Roundtable was ‘Enabling Defence Cooperation through Global Engagement (EDGE)’. OEMs from 19 countries (USA, France, Russia, South Korea, UK, Japan, Israel & Brazil etc), 35 Indian (Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Forge Ltd, Adani Defence & Aerospace, Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd, BrahMos Aerospace & Ashok Leyland Defence) and 16 Defence DPSUs attended the event.

    Major foreign OEMs including Airbus (France), Ultra Maritime (USA), GNT (South Korea), John Cockerill Defence (UK), Mitsubishi (Japan), Rafael Advanced Defense System (Israel), Safran (France) and Liebherr Aerospace (France) highlighted their future plans, Joint Ventures, collaborations, partnerships with Indian companies for production of spares parts, development of aero-engines, setting up of Maintenance, Repair and Operations facilities and establishment of R&D facilities.

    Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat were among those who attended the CEOs Roundtable.

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    VK/SPS/Savvy

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: International Co-Operation in Tourism Sector

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 5:19PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government of India works with other countries to promote tourism through bilateral and multilateral arrangements that encourage information sharing, ease of travel, and other areas of cooperation for the promotion and development of tourism. India is also a member of global tourism organizations like the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Group of Twenty (G20), Group of Seven (G7), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), etc. helping shape tourism policies and support sustainable travel. These efforts are to attract more tourists to India and also to strengthen cultural and economic ties with other nations, contributing to India’s vision of sustainable and inclusive tourism initiatives.

    India is promoted as a holistic tourism destination by showcasing its diverse offerings, including heritage, culture, spirituality, wellness, adventure and eco-tourism. To promote tourism, the Ministry undertakes several initiatives in international and domestic markets, including media campaigns, social media promotions, webinars and participation in promotional events. Additionally, Indian Missions abroad conduct various activities to attract global travelers to India’s diverse tourist destinations, contribute to strengthening India’s position as a preferred travel destination on the global map.

    This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Labour & Employment and FoundIt Signs MoU in Presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Labour & Employment and FoundIt Signs MoU in Presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

    MoU with FoundIt to Bring 10 lakh Job Opportunities Annually on NCS portal: Dr. Mandaviya

    NCS Portal has become a crucial gateway, connecting millions of job seekers with employers at national and international levels – Union Minister

    Partnership to Boost International Job Opportunities on NCS Portal

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 4:48PM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant move to enhance job creation and expand opportunities for young job seekers, the Ministry of Labour & Employment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FoundIt (Formerly Monster), a leading job portal in New Delhi today. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and aims to enhance international & domestic employment opportunities for job seekers registered on NCS portal.

    Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the NCS Portal’s transformative role in bridging the gap between job seekers and employment opportunities, both within India and abroad. “The NCS Portal has become a crucial gateway, connecting millions of job seekers with employers at the national and international levels. With the addition of 3,000 to 4,000 job postings daily, this MoU is expected to bring 1.25 lakhs international vacancies and over 10 lakhs domestic vacancies to NCS each year, significantly boosting employment prospects for Indian youth,” he stated.

    He further emphasized the NCS Portal’s role as a robust employment-generation platform, connecting job seekers across diverse industries. “With over 40 lakh employers registered, the portal has facilitated the mobilization of more than 4.40 crore vacancies since its inception. At any given time, nearly 10 lakh job vacancies are available, ensuring a steady flow of opportunities for the youth,” he added.

    Expanding its global reach, Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the NCS Portal’s integration with the e-Migrate platform, under which more than 500 active Recruitment Agencies (RAs) registered with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have been onboarded. “This initiative has opened doors for Indian professionals to secure jobs with credible, verified employers abroad,” he noted.

    Calling the NCS Portal a vital resource for job seekers, Dr. Mandaviya urged the youth to register on the platform and take full advantage of the numerous career opportunities available. He mentioned that NCS portal is integrated with My Bharat, SIDH portal which is bridging the skill gap among the youth to make them more employable.

    Secretary MoLE, Smt. Sumita Dawra stated that countries like Germany, Finland, and nations across the Middle East are actively seeking skilled workers for both blue-collar and white-collar jobs. This MoU will enable NCS to facilitate these vacancies and enhance career prospects for Indian job seekers, she added.

    V. Suresh, CEO of FoundIt, lauded the partnership, stating that it aligns with the Modi Government’s vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ by fostering inclusive employment opportunities. “Employment is the key to economic growth, and the government’s commitment to creating better career prospects is reflected in the continued success of the NCS Portal, which connects millions of job seekers with opportunities in India and abroad,” he said.

    Benefits of the MoU between MoLE and FoundIt:

    1. Expanded Job Opportunities: Job seekers registered on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal will gain access to vacancies not only within India but also in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, significantly broadening their employment prospects.
    2. Seamless Job Integration: FoundIt will post job opportunities on the NCS Portal, enhancing employment prospects for job seekers. It will gather job demand from employers across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia looking to hire in both the formal and informal sectors. Relevant job listings will be integrated into the NCS Portal via APIs for seamless access.
    3. Inclusive Hiring Practices: The NCS Portal is committed to providing employment opportunities for women and persons with disabilities. This partnership with FoundIt will promote a fair and inclusive hiring process, ensuring equal job opportunities for underrepresented groups.
    4. Access to a Diverse Talent Pool: Through this MoU, FoundIt will gain access to a large and diverse pool of candidates from the NCS Portal, including women and persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Labour & Employment will facilitate database integration, enabling FoundIt to connect with a broad talent base via a seamless technology interface, accessible both online and offline.

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    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2101338) Visitor Counter : 85

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB Group President Calviño in Kyiv on first official visit outside EU to announce new major projects for critical energy infrastructure, basic services for citizens and investment in SMEs across Ukraine

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • The EIB President is leading the EIB delegation to Ukraine on her first visit outside the EU since taking up office last year.
    • Calviño stressed the EIB Group’s long-term commitment to Ukraine in talks with the government and business leaders in Kyiv.
    • The projects announced under EU’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility include €420 million in investment for the public sector to restore and protect energy supplies, and for water, heating, housing and other critical infrastructure.
    • The support also includes new loan and guarantees for SMEs, unlocking almost €500 million of new finance.
    • The EU 112 emergency call system will be rolled out in Ukraine with EIB backing.
    • A €16.5 million grant provided by the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to an EIB International Climate Initiative Trust Fund has been signed for renewable energy in Ukraine.
    • There are plans for close cooperation to advance social housing in the country.

    On her first official visit outside the European Union since taking up office a year ago, European Investment Bank (EIB) Group President Nadia Calviño is visiting Kyiv today to meet top Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The objective of the visit is to agree on new financing operations for Ukraine and stress Europe’s long-term commitment to the country. President Calviño is leading the delegation that also features EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska and EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová.

    The package – part of the European Union’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility – includes €420 million for new public-sector projects to restore and protect energy supplies, heating systems and other critical infrastructure that has been damaged since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The EIB and the European Commission are set to finalise the approval of a €2 billion EIB contribution under the Facility.

    The latest round of European funding announced today will also benefit Ukraine’s private sector, with the aim of bolstering thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the country’s economy. It combines a €100 million loan and guarantees aimed at unlocking around €400 million in lending to SMEs through key Ukrainian banks – including Ukreximbank, ProCredit Bank and Ukrgasbank – with which the EIB has signed agreements today.

    Another element of the package is the planned rollout of the European Union’s common 112 emergency number and call system across Ukraine to enhance public safety. President Calviño visited an operating centre in Kyiv that will run the new system to mark the signing of a €40 million EIB loan for the initiative, which is complemented by a €12 million EU grant and funding from Member States under the EU for Ukraine Fund.

    “This is my first official visit outside the European Union since  taking up office as President of the EIB Group last year. Support for Ukraine is a top priority and that is why I am so pleased to be here to announce new major projects for SMEs, energy, water and other essential services that will help people to continue with their daily lives and support the country’s economic resilience, while also laying the foundation for a stronger Ukraine on its path to EU membership,” said EIB Group President Nadia Calviño.”

    “The financing package that we have announced reflects our ongoing and unwavering commitment, since the very first day of this war, to help Ukraine recover, rebuild, and thrive despite the immense challenges it faces. This is a joint effort of Team Europe made possible through close collaboration with the European Commission and EU Member States,” added EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska, who oversees the Bank’s operations in Ukraine.

    “This support package, developed with the EIB, further demonstrates the European Union’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. With the Ukraine Facility, we are restoring vital infrastructure and helping businesses grow – crucial projects as Ukraine defends itself against Russian aggression. Together, we will continue to support Ukraine, working on key areas, such as energy, housing, and public safety to build a stronger and more sustainable future,” said EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarína Mathernová.

    Today, four projects worth €420 million were announced under the EU’s Ukraine Facility. They will help to restore critical infrastructure and services and ensure a stable energy supply. The projects include the €100 million “Ukraine Recovery III”, €100 million “Ukraine Water Recovery”, and the €100 million “Ukraine District Heating”, which will be channelled through Ukreximbank. These initiatives aim to ensure that millions of Ukrainians in more than 100 communities across the country have access to heating, water, hospitals, schools and housing for internally displaced people. The €120 million “Support of Ukrhydroenergo Stability and Recovery” loan to the largest hydropower generating company in Ukraine will help to restore hydropower plants and thus reinforce the Ukrainian energy system.

    Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine — Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba said: “We deeply value the strong cooperation with the European Investment Bank, in particular under the recovery programmes, which are playing, since 2014 a key role in supporting more than 100 communities across the country. We are grateful for the support to the communities that are de-occupied or close to the front line. The provision of social, medical, logistical, educational and other infrastructure is essential to ensuring our communities remains strong and resilient. Today we sign €100 million of the multi-sector Ukraine Recovery III loan for the restoration and modernization of critical infrastructure, such as heating, hospitals and housing for IDPs and we sign €100 million of Ukraine Water Recovery dedicated to water and wastewater. Our collaboration on social housing is another key component, reflecting our shared commitment to providing essential infrastructure and stability for those in need. The grant for renewable energy, which we also signed today, will play a vital role in ensuring that critical buildings, like hospitals, can continue serving the population amidst power cuts. Together, these initiatives not only accelerate our recovery but also help us build a more resilient and sustainable future for our country.”

    The financing provided for the 112 call system in Ukraine will expand data centres across the country and upgrade their technological capacity, ensuring that critical services are reliable and efficient.

    “Implementing and developing the 112 emergency call system has become a crucial component in enhancing public safety in Ukraine and in aligning our infrastructure to European standards. Thanks to the EIB loan and support from European partners, we will be able to improve cooperation between emergency services, particularly through the automatic detection of the caller’s geolocation. We will strengthen our ability to assist individuals with hearing and speech impairments, as well as foreign citizens. This project is about enhancing the safety of our citizens and providing timely assistance to those in need,” said Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko.

    The EIB is also signing a €16.5 million grant from the German government with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine to promote renewable energy. The grant comes through the EIB’s International Climate Initiative Fund and is part of the Ukraine Energy Rescue Plan announced by the EIB in October 2024.

    The grant will help integrate renewable energy systems into public buildings undergoing renovation works under EIB municipal loans. This will upgrade social infrastructure and make energy more reliable, cleaner and less costly. The grant will also help to decentralise energy generation, ensuring that critical public buildings in towns and villages are less reliant on electricity supplies from large power stations, making them less vulnerable to blackouts in the event of an airstrike.

    Berthold Goeke, Director-General for Climate Action, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) said: “Through the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme, the International Climate Initiative (IKI) is helping smaller Ukrainian communities — those most affected by the war and in urgent need — to implement climate-friendly technologies. This support enables Ukraine to reduce energy costs and modernize outdated infrastructure in public buildings, laying the foundation for a stable and renewable energy future. In this way, the German government is addressing two critical challenges in Ukraine’s energy system. First, we are supporting the development of a decentralized and resilient energy supply, particularly for essential public infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and kindergartens. Given the ongoing Russian aggression and the destruction of central energy infrastructure, this is vital for ensuring stability and security. Second, our initiative contributes to Ukraine’s long-term energy transition by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency measures, paving the way for a climate-neutral energy system.”

    Social housing is one of the most pressing issues in Ukraine, with 10% of the country’s housing stock damaged as a result of the war. The EIB is supporting the government in drafting a new housing code and exploring the possibility of financing the construction of homes that are publicly owned.

    Background information

    EIB in Ukraine 

    The EIB Group has been supporting Ukraine’s resilience, economy and efforts to rebuild since the very first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In 2024, we supported projects aimed at securing Ukraine’s energy supply, repairing critical infrastructure that has been damaged, and ensuring that essential services continue to be delivered across the country. This brings the total amount of aid we have disbursed since the start of the war to over €2.2 billion. This funding has played a crucial role in ensuring that vital services continue to be delivered to people in Ukraine. For example, this year we inaugurated the water supply facility in Bucha that was rebuilt, and which provides clean water to 9 000 residents. We also opened five new schools in Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Ternopil Oblasts, helped build a department for children’s infectious diseases at a hospital in Zhytomyr Oblast, and significantly improved sanitation through the upgraded sewerage collector in Vinnytsia Oblast. Furthermore, our investments have helped modernise street lighting in Dnipro, benefitted the reclamation of the Hrybovychi landfill in Lviv, and helped to upgrade water infrastructure in Mykolaiv. We have also strengthened Ukraine’s transport networks to ensure resilient and sustainable mobility for businesses and residents. With our support, cities such as Lviv, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Odesa, and Sumy have purchased new buses, trolleybuses, and trams. In addition, we have funded the reconstruction of the M01 Kyiv-Chernihiv-Novi Yarylovychi section of road that had been damaged in the war. To enhance Ukraine’s energy resilience, we have launched the Energy Rescue Plan, securing €600 million in EU-backed financing, including €86 million to build anti-drone shelters to protect critical electricity transmission infrastructure. These measures are crucial to maintaining stable power supply across the country amid ongoing challenges. In 2024, we signed over €250 million in new investment for projects to further enhance social infrastructure and support businesses that are the backbone of Ukraine’s economy.

    The EU for Ukraine Fund (EU4U) was established in 2023 as part of a larger EU for Ukraine initiative. The fund aims to accelerate EIB Global’s support for Ukraine’s most urgent infrastructure needs and help sustain its economy. The Fund supports both public and private sector projects to rebuild critical municipal infrastructure and improve access to finance for entrepreneurs.

    The International Climate Initiative (IKI) Fund was established in 2019 in partnership with the government of Germany, with the aim of catalysing investment for ambitious climate change mitigation and adaptation projects in developing and emerging countries. The IKI Fund seeks to do this by providing investment grants, financial instruments and technical assistance to public and private sector beneficiaries, as well as advisory services to central banks and financial institutions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protecting citizens from the devious practices of news networks – E-000387/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000387/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

    A number of news networks have been accused of presenting different content in the EU and their countries of origin, with the intention of manipulating Europeans. Studies have identified differences in political tone between Al Jazeera’s English-language and Arabic-language channels, as well as between Arabic and non-Arabic speakers. These differences are evident in terms of content selection, presentation and editorial position. For example, studies comparing the network’s coverage of the US-Al Qaeda conflict found that the Arabic-language website often presented more critical views, while the English-language website adopted a rather neutral tone.

    In addition, Al Jazeera English takes a different approach to the Arabic-language channel, with differences in tone, topic selection and overall coverage. These differences suggest that Al Jazeera adapts its content to meet the distinct needs of its English-speaking and Arab-speaking audiences, resulting in variations in political tone and coverage. Similar complaints have been made about the Turkish broadcaster TRT, which the Turkish Government is trying to use as a tool of social and political manipulation on Turkish people located in the EU.

    Does the Commission have a strategy to effectively address these differences and to enhance the accountability of large news networks operating within the EU?

    Submitted: 28.1.2025

    Last updated: 10 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –