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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDIA – Archbishop Neli: the path to peace in Manipur is not achieved with weapons and separation walls

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Paolo AffatatoImphal (Agenzia Fides) – “Peace and reconciliation in Manipur cannot be based on the separation of ethnic communities; they will not be achieved by building a new separation wall on the border with Myanmar, which the state wants to build for over 1,600 kilometers,” says the Archbishop of Imphal, capital of the Indian state of Manipur, Linus Neli. “Peace – continues the Archbishop – will not be achieved by rearming ethnic groups, as is dangerously happening between the Kuki and Meitei communities. Peace will be achieved by resuming dialogue and negotiations, and by pursuing a path of equality and justice that overcomes old rivalries and ethnic claims”.In an interview with Fides, the Archbishop speaks about the crisis that has shaken north-east India for over a year. The Archbishop places the problem in the ethnic and cultural reality of the northeastern region of India, “a region with its own specific dimension, characterized by ethnic, linguistic and cultural pluralism”.The northeast of India includes the seven states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, as well as the Himalayan state of Sikkim and the Jalpaiguri region, which legally belongs to West Bengal. “It is also geographically remote,” the Archbishop notes, “because it is only connected to the rest of the country by a narrow corridor between Bhutan and Bangladesh, the Siliguri Corridor. This geographical peculiarity is not irrelevant, also in terms of relations with the central government in New Delhi,” he notes.The region has often been plagued by social, ethnic and political conflicts and tensions in the past. When they were founded, the Northeastern States were created, said the Archbishop, “to give the respective indigenous communities the opportunity to preserve their identity and to make their own contribution to the Indian Federation with the unique resources of their cultural heritage. Some tribal groups are also infinitely small communities and are only now entering the highly competitive world of modern India.”Northeast India, meanwhile, is one of the regions in India where the concentration of citizens of Christian faith is the highest: of the approximately 27.8 million Christians in the whole of India, around 7.8 million live in this region in the Northeast. “This also gives rise to our responsibility to promote peace, justice and brotherhood between people and groups of different faiths, languages, cultures and ethnicities,” said the Archbishop.Archbishop Neli outlines and explains the internal situation in Manipur, where “there are three major ethnic groups: the Kuki, the Meitei and the Naga. Coexistence and relations between the ethnic groups have not been easy in the past either. There is a dispute over who came first, i.e. who can claim more rights in social life, because the Kuki came centuries ago (from the 16th century, ed.) from neighboring Myanmar (where they are called Chin, ed.). The confrontation, even the conflict, has always had a central theme: ownership of land as a source of livelihood and wealth. The current conflict between Kuki and Meitei is no exception: it is basically about land rights,” he explains.”Geographically speaking – and here too the geographical aspect cannot be neglected – the Meitei now own about 10% of the land and are settled in the valley where the capital Imphal is located. The other groups, Naga and Kuki, live in the hill and mountain regions, claim about 90 percent of the land and are recognized as so-called scheduled tribes.” These are historically marginalized tribes who are granted Indian state welfare and support programs, special rights and, in northeast India, autonomous self-government in some cases.In March 2023, a ruling by the Manipur High Court recommended that the central government include the Meitei community in the list of “recognized tribal communities,” sparking protests that later escalated into clashes and general conflict. “It must be said that the Meitei are a numerical minority, but they are a political majority that controls the local government (the state’s prime minister is N. Biren Singh, a member of the Baratiya Janata Party, the party of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ed.) and has over the years pursued policies that other groups believe discriminate against the tribal population.”There is also the religious element, because the Meitei are Hindus and live – an exception in India – as a minority in a state with a majority Christian population. “In recent years, Hindu extremists have tried to colonize the area,” explains the Pastor of the Catholic community in Imphal. “The destruction of the Christian chapels during the conflict is, however, due, among other things, to the internal religious disputes within the Meitei community, which then reunited against the common enemy, the Kukis,” he adds, providing an element that complicates the picture that does not appear in the media.”Christians,” continues Archbishop Neli, “are everywhere, in all three tribal communities, the Kuki, the Meitei and the Naga, and therefore, in essence, the experience of being brothers and sisters in Christ can restore the sense of community and fraternity and help to see the other not as an enemy, but as brothers and sisters with whom one can live peacefully. Faith in Christ helps to create peace and justice.”The Archbishop refers to the current situation of absolute separation, with military checkpoints between the areas inhabited by the Meitei and the Kuki, who cannot enter each other’s territories: “This separation may have temporarily broken the spiral of conflict, but it is not enough because it has not healed the trauma and wounds (more than 220 victims and 67,000 displaced people), nor has it calmed the hatred and desire for revenge: in fact, all the communities are currently rearming and organizing themselves with increasingly heavy weapons. It gives the impression of a powder keg ready to explode. And if this were to happen, the use of these weapons would make the conflict even bloodier,” he notes.In this context, Archbishop Neli, who himself belongs to the Naga ethnic group and is considered “neutral”, has no problem visiting the parishes in the various areas where there are also priests (76 in the diocese), who are also divided by ethnicity. “Because I am a Naga, I can visit the various communities and be at their side. This also applies to religious and priests from the Indian state of Kerala (in southern India). I can say that during my visits I have seen a clear desire: people are hungry and thirsty for peace. It is urgent that a political solution be sought and pursued with all energy,” he says, reporting on the situation of more than 1,000 Catholic Kuki refugees who have had to leave areas such as the city of Imphal where they used to live. “The Catholic community offers them support and food, and we have also built small wooden houses where they can stay,” he reports.At the political level, the Archbishop expresses doubts about the plan announced by Home Minister Amit Shah in the central government because “the central government has long neglected Manipur and the response to dealing with the violence has been inadequate, there has been no clear political vision and now the social, employment and economic crisis is deepening in the entire state, which is today stuck in the impasse of inability to communicate between regions and groups, with negative consequences for businesses, schools and socio-economic activities”.In addition, fearing the infiltration of Kuki militants from Myanmar, the government has started building a separation wall to seal off a 1,600-kilometer border, “which means institutionalizing separations, reasoning according to the logic of division, which, however, continues to agitate minds and fuel hatred,” he notes.Politicians, adds Archbishop Neli, “should think about concrete solutions and measures, such as the possible creation of two different autonomous administrative units or – another proposal that has emerged – that the Kuki districts become a Union State, that is, directly dependent on the central government. But any proposal can only start from a dialogue, a mediation, a negotiation that takes into account the need to create geographical and socio-cultural harmony.”“This process,” concludes Archbishop Neli, “starts from a fundamental assumption that must be accepted by all: the recognition of others as ‘brothers in humanity’, the basis that allows coexistence even between peoples who differ in language, history, ethnicity, culture and religion. This is why we are also inspired by Pope Francis’ document ‘Fratelli Tutti’, which we hope will be welcomed by Christians and non-Christians”.(Agenzia Fides, 25/9/2024)

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Waste to wealth: solutions for a sustainable future

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts

    For decades, the rapid urbanisation and industrial growth experienced by many nations, had come at a high environmental cost. Landfills overflowed, plastic waste contaminated rivers and oceans, and emissions from improper waste disposal intensified the climate crisis.

    The International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) Congress 2024, themed “Waste to Wealth: Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” signalled a turning point, with the idea that waste could be transformed into wealth resonating deeply. 

    The congress brought together global experts, policymakers, and business leaders to share cutting-edge practices in waste management and the circular economy. But more importantly, it showcased South Africa’s commitment to turning its waste challenges into economic opportunities.

    The government’s introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations and the accent of the Climate Change Bill into an Act marked a significant shift in how the nation approached waste. The EPR Regulations require manufacturers to take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products, from production to post-consumer waste. This policy forces businesses to rethink how they design, produce, and manage products, pushing them toward more sustainable practices.

    The Climate Change Act further aligns the nation’s policies with its environmental goals. It ensures that South Africa’s response to climate change, particularly in transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy is supported by robust legislation. This act not only aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also promotes the creation of green jobs and investments in the emerging circular economy.

    However, one of the most remarkable aspects of South Africa’s waste management evolution is the active role the private sector plays. While government policies set the framework, it is private companies that help drive real change. Faced with regulatory requirements, businesses are beginning to take ownership of their waste, investing in recycling technologies, sustainable product designs, and waste-to-energy initiatives.

    The idea that waste could be a resource, rather than a burden, has begun to reshape industries. For instance, South Africa’s plastic manufacturing sector was forced to adapt to new requirements mandating the inclusion of recycled content in products. This sparked a wave of innovation, as companies began developing new methods to incorporate recyclates into their production processes. Similarly, the construction industry began embracing the reuse of demolition waste, reducing its dependence on raw materials and lowering its environmental footprint.

    While these changes are promising, the waste crisis is still far from being resolved. This is due to municipalities across South Africa being overwhelmed and lacking the necessary infrastructure to handle the growing volume of waste. Many cities and towns have inadequate waste collection services, let alone the advanced recycling and waste-to-energy facilities needed to close the loop in a circular economy. Additionally, the waste management sector is in dire need of investment, and the ISWA Congress offered a unique platform for South Africa to engage with international experts and potential investors.

    What made the congress particularly significant was its global scope. Waste management has long since ceased being a local problem; it is a global one, particularly in the fight against plastic pollution.
    South Africa found itself in the unique position of contributing to international discussions on the issue, especially through its involvement in the development of a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The country is increasing its recycling capacity for plastic waste, and it supports global efforts to eliminate plastic pollution by regulating product design and prioritizing recyclates.

    As South Africa prepares for its G20 presidency in 2025, the outcomes of the ISWA Congress took on even greater importance. The country has an opportunity to set the agenda on sustainability for some of the world’s most powerful economies. The government-to-government (G2G) session held during the congress provided a critical forum for sharing best practices with other nations, many of which were facing similar challenges. These exchanges were crucial, as they not only helped shape South Africa’s preparations for the G20 but also fostered greater international cooperation in addressing global waste and sustainability issues.

    One of the most pressing priorities for the South African government remained job creation. The waste management sector, particularly through the circular economy, offers a promising avenue for addressing the nation’s high unemployment rate. Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are already benefitting from government and private sector support to enter the waste management space.

    Bernice Swarts is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa to lead homecoming ceremony for struggle heroes

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Thursday, September 26, 2024

    President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officiate the repatriation and restitution homecoming ceremony for the remains of South African freedom fighters, who lost their lives in Zambia and Zimbabwe during the apartheid era.

    The ceremony is expected to be held at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Tshwane on Friday. 

    “Ahead of addressing the homecoming ceremony on Friday… President Ramaphosa will lead a wreath-laying procession at the Wall of Names.

    “The Wall of Names is inscribed with the names of heroes and heroines, who died fighting for humanity and freedom during the major conflicts in South African history, namely: the Pre-Colonial Wars, Slavery, Genocide, Wars of Resistance, the South African War, the First and Second World War and the Struggle for Liberation,” the Presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.

    The repatriation and restitution homecoming ceremony forms part of Heritage Month, observed under the theme: “Celebrating the Lives of Our Heroes and Heroines Who Laid Down Their Lives for Our Freedom”.

    On Wednesday, the South African government received the remains of 49 liberation fighters at Waterkloof Airforce Base in the presence of their families.

    The Presidency explained that the repatriation formed part of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Project (RLHR).

    “The RLHR is a national memory project aimed at commemorating, celebrating, educating, promoting, preserving, conserving and providing a durable testament of South Africa’s road to freedom.

    “The repatriation initiative is part of a broader effort to bring the remains of freedom fighters, who died in exile, to their final resting places. 

    “This is not only a gesture of honour to the individuals and their families but also an effort to strengthen the bonds of friendship, solidarity, and development with the host countries through memorialisation,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Warpsolution’s Space:on Achieves FCC Part 18 Certification, Advancing Wireless Charging

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEOUL, KOREA, Sept. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As CES 2025 approaches, Warpsolution’s Space:on has received FCC Part 18 certification, enhancing its market potential by enabling efficient power delivery across any distance without limitations.

    Revolutionizing Wireless Charging

    FCC Part 18 certification marks a key advancement for Space:on, setting it apart by supporting high-power, long-distance wireless charging. This contrasts with FCC Part 15, which limits devices to shorter ranges and lower power, primarily for communication devices like routers and consumer electronics.

    Key Distinctions: Part 15 vs. Part 18

    FCC Part 15 regulations are designed primarily for devices with communication functions, typically limiting power usage to less than 1W and applying strict controls on spurious emissions to minimize interference. In contrast, FCC Part 18 aligns with ITU recommendations and caters to industrial, scientific, and medical devices. It permits up to 1W at 920MHz with provisions for higher power under specific conditions, offering potential for greater power usage in future applications. This regulatory framework not only ensures technological efficiency and safety but also supports innovations like Warpsolution’s Space:on.

    Beyond Conventional Charging

    Space:on can charge multiple devices within a 40cm diameter, featuring a touch-activated system that integrates seamlessly into any environment, providing a cable-free experience. This positions Warpsolution at the forefront of the industry.

    Environmental Impact and Market Expansion

    The FCC Part 18 certification highlights Space:on’s role in promoting sustainability by minimizing electronic waste and enhancing energy efficiency. This positions the product as a leader in eco-friendly technology solutions.

    Future Prospects

    With this certification, Warpsolution is poised to transform how devices are powered, enhancing usability in homes and businesses. Space:on is not just a technological advancement; it represents a future where technology integrates seamlessly into our lives while adhering to high safety and environmental standards.

    Media contact

    Brand: Warpsolution

    Contact: Media team

    Email: warps@warpsolution.com

    Website: https://warpsolution.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Announces $86.16M in Grants to Support American Indian and Native Alaskan Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    The Justice Department announced yesterday more than $86.16 million in grants administered by the Tribal Affairs Division within the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to support survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

    The grants provided through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) will fund services for victims of these crimes while providing support for Tribal governments, including law enforcement, prosecutors, and Tribal courts, to enhance safety and support Tribal sovereignty. The Tribal Affairs Division within OVW is responsible for the administration of Tribal specific grant programs and initiatives, management of Tribal specific training and technical assistance, and coordination with other federal departments and Justice Department offices on Tribal issues. Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall of OVW made the announcement at the annual Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program Institute, a convening of Tribal officials, victim advocates, and other Tribal leaders, as well as OVW-funded training and technical assistance advisors, who work to support Tribes in developing and improving programs to support survivors of sexual assault.

    “Tribal communities, and particularly American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have experienced disproportionately high levels of violence for too long,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This $86 million dollar investment represents the Justice Department’s commitment to working in partnership with Tribal nations to address and prevent gender-based violence and provide safety and justice for survivors.”

    Included in these awards is more than $7.58 million that OVW is awarding under its new Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) Program. The program is for Tribal governments that have not previously or recently participated in OVW’s Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program and focuses on capacity building early in the project period. Awardees will receive additional training, technical assistance, and support to implement their programs. Additionally, OVW awarded $45.17 million under the established Tribal Governments Program to support Tribal governments in responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities.

    OVW also launched a new grant program this year through its Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative, which was created in response to recommendations made by the Not Invisible Act Commission. OVW awarded $2 million under this initiative to support the creation, training, and sustainability of Healing and Response Teams using a Tribal-based model of care to respond to Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

    OVW is awarding grants totaling more than $3.57 million to Tribes under its Special Tribal Criminal Grant (STCJ) Program and $1.5 million under its Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative. The programs support Tribes that are preparing to exercise or are already exercising STCJ to ensure that victims find safety and justice and that non-Indians who commit covered crimes within their communities, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, are held accountable.

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling $3.75 million under its Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative to support the collaboration between Tribes and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in their investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking cases in Indian country.

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling more than $11.11 million under its Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program to support Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal nonprofit organizations in operating sexual assault services programs in Indian country and Alaska Native villages. Additionally, OVW awarded funding totaling more than $8.28 million under its Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program to support the development and operation of nonprofit, nongovernmental Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions.

    “We are committed to addressing the disproportionately high rates of violent crime faced by American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls and ensuring everyone can access both safety and justice,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “This funding supports Tribal governments and Tribal organizations’ efforts to provide legal services, housing assistance, medical care, and counseling to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence.”

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling $3.2 million for Tribal training and technical assistance (TA) programs. The TA programs support grantees through in-person and online educational opportunities, peer-to-peer networks, on-site technical assistance, and tailored support to help grantees further develop expertise and targeted strategies to implement their programs successfully.

    “The strength of VAWA is enhancing a coordinated community response,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “These grant programs provide critical support for Tribes to address gender-based violence by fostering essential partnerships among victim services organizations, law enforcement, prosecutors, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders who play a crucial role in supporting survivors and providing pathways for them to access justice, safety, and healing.”

    OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW has awarded more than $11 billion in funding to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW supports policy development and undertakes special initiatives in response to community-identified needs. Learn more at http://www.justice.gov/ovw.

    View the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative (STCJ AK) Program Award.

    View the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative Awards.

    View the Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Invitation to Apply Awards.

    View the Indian Tribal Governments: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) Awards.

    View the Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative Awards.

    View the Indian Tribal Governments Program Awards.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Awards Nearly $30M to Combat the Rise of Hate and Bias Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer announced today nearly $30 million in grant funding through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) that will be awarded to law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, national civil rights organizations, and other stakeholders to fight the rise in hate and bias crimes and incidents. These awards will help communities improve the investigation and prosecution of hate and bias crimes, solve hate crime cold cases, serve victims of these offenses, and support related research.

    “These grants are vital in helping to ensure law enforcement and community members get the support they need as they continue to strive to keep all communities safe,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Everyone in this country deserves not only to feel safe but to be safe in their communities, and we’re excited about the new grant funding investments made.”

    The funding was announced at the inaugural hate crimes grantee conference organized by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grants are part of the Justice Department’s wide-ranging efforts to improve community safety, serve victims of crime, support America’s youth, advance science, and promote equal justice. OJP is the largest grantmaking component of the Department and houses its criminal and juvenile justice-related science and statistical units.

    “Freedom from intolerance and from the fear of violence is foundational to community safety and fundamental to the concept of equal justice,” said OJP Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent J. Cohen. “I’m very pleased that OJP is making these important resources available to our community partners and proud of the work we’re engaged in, together, to end hate and bias crimes and incidents in our country.”

    The funding announced today includes:

    • $12 million in grants under BJA’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program to help local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices investigate and prosecute hate and bias crimes, as well as collaborate with community partners on outreach and education to targeted communities.
    • More than $7.6 million in awards from BJA to 11 different community-based organizations and civil rights organizations for projects around the country dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive hate crimes prevention and response strategies.
    • $1 million for the Orleans Parish, Louisiana, District Attorney’s Office under BJA’s Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation and Prosecution Program to provide resources in cold case homicide cases involving civil rights violations that occurred before 1980.
    • $2.7 million for RTI International and its subrecipients, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, to launch BJA’s new Coordinated Hate Crimes Resource Center.
    • $1.125 million for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office through the Office for Victims of Crime’s Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines program.
    • $2.5 million through Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act funding for the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ research and analysis project on National Incident-Based Reporting System data and hate crime reporting patterns.
    • $2.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Justice for three research projects on responding to hate crimes with specialized law enforcement units, including LGTBQI+ liaison units to respond to hate crimes against transgender individuals, and addressing the needs of survivors of hate crimes and their communities.

    In addition to these new grant awards, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Mizer announced OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum to provide resources to address hate crimes, bias incidents and identity-based bullying among youth. The curriculum is designed for middle and high school-aged youth and the teachers, counselors and others who work with them. He also announced the Community Oriented Policing Services (the COPS Office) is launching a new training on investigating hate crimes, which builds on the training the COPS Office released in 2022 on recognizing and reporting hate crimes.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: DC Accountant Charged with Mortgage Fraud and Tax Crimes

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    Defendant Allegedly Did Not File Tax Returns and Falsified Documents to Obtain Mortgage

    A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., returned an indictment yesterday, which was unsealed today, charging a CPA with not filing income tax returns, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    According to the indictment, Timothy Trifilo, of Washington, D.C., was a partner or managing director at several large accounting and finance firms and worked in tax compliance. Nevertheless, Trifilo allegedly did not file federal income tax returns for himself for nearly a decade despite earning more than $7.7 million during that time.

    In February 2023, Trifilo allegedly sought to obtain a $1.36 million bank-financed loan to purchase a home in D.C. and was working with a mortgage company to do so. After the mortgage company allegedly told Trifilo that the bank would not approve the loan without copies of Trifilo’s filed tax returns, Trifilo allegedly provided the mortgage company with fabricated documents to make it appear as if he had filed tax returns and provided copies of tax returns for 2020 and 2021 that Trifilo never filed with the IRS. On these returns and other documents that he submitted to the mortgage company, Trifilo allegedly listed a former colleague as the individual who prepared the returns and uploaded them for filing with the IRS. This individual allegedly did not prepare the returns, has never prepared tax returns for Trifilo and did not authorize Trifilo to use his name on the returns and other documents that Trifilo submitted to the mortgage company. Based on Trifilo’s false representation, the bank allegedly approved the loan and Trifilo purchased the home.

    If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison on the identity theft charge, a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge, and a maximum sentence of one year in prison on each count of failure to file tax returns. Trifilo also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Alexandra K. Fleszar of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Announces $86.16M in Grants to Support American Indian and Native Alaskan Survivors of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Sex Trafficking

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    The Justice Department announced yesterday more than $86.16 million in grants administered by the Tribal Affairs Division within the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to support survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

    The grants provided through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) will fund services for victims of these crimes while providing support for Tribal governments, including law enforcement, prosecutors, and Tribal courts, to enhance safety and support Tribal sovereignty. The Tribal Affairs Division within OVW is responsible for the administration of Tribal specific grant programs and initiatives, management of Tribal specific training and technical assistance, and coordination with other federal departments and Justice Department offices on Tribal issues. Principal Deputy Director Allison Randall of OVW made the announcement at the annual Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program Institute, a convening of Tribal officials, victim advocates, and other Tribal leaders, as well as OVW-funded training and technical assistance advisors, who work to support Tribes in developing and improving programs to support survivors of sexual assault.

    “Tribal communities, and particularly American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls, have experienced disproportionately high levels of violence for too long,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This $86 million dollar investment represents the Justice Department’s commitment to working in partnership with Tribal nations to address and prevent gender-based violence and provide safety and justice for survivors.”

    Included in these awards is more than $7.58 million that OVW is awarding under its new Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) Program. The program is for Tribal governments that have not previously or recently participated in OVW’s Grants to Indian Tribal Governments Program and focuses on capacity building early in the project period. Awardees will receive additional training, technical assistance, and support to implement their programs. Additionally, OVW awarded $45.17 million under the established Tribal Governments Program to support Tribal governments in responding to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, sex trafficking, and stalking in Tribal communities.

    OVW also launched a new grant program this year through its Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative, which was created in response to recommendations made by the Not Invisible Act Commission. OVW awarded $2 million under this initiative to support the creation, training, and sustainability of Healing and Response Teams using a Tribal-based model of care to respond to Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) cases related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

    OVW is awarding grants totaling more than $3.57 million to Tribes under its Special Tribal Criminal Grant (STCJ) Program and $1.5 million under its Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative. The programs support Tribes that are preparing to exercise or are already exercising STCJ to ensure that victims find safety and justice and that non-Indians who commit covered crimes within their communities, including domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking, are held accountable.

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling $3.75 million under its Violence Against Women Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative to support the collaboration between Tribes and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in their investigation and prosecution of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, sex trafficking, and stalking cases in Indian country.

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling more than $11.11 million under its Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program to support Tribes, Tribal organizations, and Tribal nonprofit organizations in operating sexual assault services programs in Indian country and Alaska Native villages. Additionally, OVW awarded funding totaling more than $8.28 million under its Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Program to support the development and operation of nonprofit, nongovernmental Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions.

    “We are committed to addressing the disproportionately high rates of violent crime faced by American Indian and Alaska Native women and girls and ensuring everyone can access both safety and justice,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “This funding supports Tribal governments and Tribal organizations’ efforts to provide legal services, housing assistance, medical care, and counseling to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence.”

    OVW is also awarding grants totaling $3.2 million for Tribal training and technical assistance (TA) programs. The TA programs support grantees through in-person and online educational opportunities, peer-to-peer networks, on-site technical assistance, and tailored support to help grantees further develop expertise and targeted strategies to implement their programs successfully.

    “The strength of VAWA is enhancing a coordinated community response,” said OVW Director Rosie Hidalgo. “These grant programs provide critical support for Tribes to address gender-based violence by fostering essential partnerships among victim services organizations, law enforcement, prosecutors, community-based organizations, and other key stakeholders who play a crucial role in supporting survivors and providing pathways for them to access justice, safety, and healing.”

    OVW provides leadership in developing the nation’s capacity to reduce violence through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act and subsequent legislation. Created in 1995, OVW has awarded more than $11 billion in funding to communities across the country that are developing programs, policies, and practices aimed at ending domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In addition to overseeing federal grant programs, OVW supports policy development and undertakes special initiatives in response to community-identified needs. Learn more at http://www.justice.gov/ovw.

    View the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction: Targeted Support for Alaska Native Tribes Special Initiative (STCJ AK) Program Award.

    View the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Initiative Awards.

    View the Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Invitation to Apply Awards.

    View the Indian Tribal Governments: Strengthening Tribal Advocacy Responses Track (START) Awards.

    View the Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative Awards.

    View the Indian Tribal Governments Program Awards.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DC Accountant Charged with Mortgage Fraud and Tax Crimes

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Defendant Allegedly Did Not File Tax Returns and Falsified Documents to Obtain Mortgage

    A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., returned an indictment yesterday, which was unsealed today, charging a CPA with not filing income tax returns, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

    According to the indictment, Timothy Trifilo, of Washington, D.C., was a partner or managing director at several large accounting and finance firms and worked in tax compliance. Nevertheless, Trifilo allegedly did not file federal income tax returns for himself for nearly a decade despite earning more than $7.7 million during that time.

    In February 2023, Trifilo allegedly sought to obtain a $1.36 million bank-financed loan to purchase a home in D.C. and was working with a mortgage company to do so. After the mortgage company allegedly told Trifilo that the bank would not approve the loan without copies of Trifilo’s filed tax returns, Trifilo allegedly provided the mortgage company with fabricated documents to make it appear as if he had filed tax returns and provided copies of tax returns for 2020 and 2021 that Trifilo never filed with the IRS. On these returns and other documents that he submitted to the mortgage company, Trifilo allegedly listed a former colleague as the individual who prepared the returns and uploaded them for filing with the IRS. This individual allegedly did not prepare the returns, has never prepared tax returns for Trifilo and did not authorize Trifilo to use his name on the returns and other documents that Trifilo submitted to the mortgage company. Based on Trifilo’s false representation, the bank allegedly approved the loan and Trifilo purchased the home.

    If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison on the identity theft charge, a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge, and a maximum sentence of one year in prison on each count of failure to file tax returns. Trifilo also faces a period of supervised release, monetary penalties and restitution. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement.

    IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

    Trial Attorneys Melissa S. Siskind and Alexandra K. Fleszar of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Awards Nearly $30M to Combat the Rise of Hate and Bias Crimes

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer announced today nearly $30 million in grant funding through the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) that will be awarded to law enforcement agencies, states, community-based organizations, national civil rights organizations, and other stakeholders to fight the rise in hate and bias crimes and incidents. These awards will help communities improve the investigation and prosecution of hate and bias crimes, solve hate crime cold cases, serve victims of these offenses, and support related research.

    “These grants are vital in helping to ensure law enforcement and community members get the support they need as they continue to strive to keep all communities safe,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Everyone in this country deserves not only to feel safe but to be safe in their communities, and we’re excited about the new grant funding investments made.”

    The funding was announced at the inaugural hate crimes grantee conference organized by OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The grants are part of the Justice Department’s wide-ranging efforts to improve community safety, serve victims of crime, support America’s youth, advance science, and promote equal justice. OJP is the largest grantmaking component of the Department and houses its criminal and juvenile justice-related science and statistical units.

    “Freedom from intolerance and from the fear of violence is foundational to community safety and fundamental to the concept of equal justice,” said OJP Acting Assistant Attorney General Brent J. Cohen. “I’m very pleased that OJP is making these important resources available to our community partners and proud of the work we’re engaged in, together, to end hate and bias crimes and incidents in our country.”

    The funding announced today includes:

    • $12 million in grants under BJA’s Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program to help local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices investigate and prosecute hate and bias crimes, as well as collaborate with community partners on outreach and education to targeted communities.
    • More than $7.6 million in awards from BJA to 11 different community-based organizations and civil rights organizations for projects around the country dedicated to developing and implementing comprehensive hate crimes prevention and response strategies.
    • $1 million for the Orleans Parish, Louisiana, District Attorney’s Office under BJA’s Emmett Till Cold Case Investigation and Prosecution Program to provide resources in cold case homicide cases involving civil rights violations that occurred before 1980.
    • $2.7 million for RTI International and its subrecipients, the Eradicate Hate Global Summit and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, to launch BJA’s new Coordinated Hate Crimes Resource Center.
    • $1.125 million for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office through the Office for Victims of Crime’s Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act State-Run Hate Crime Reporting Hotlines program.
    • $2.5 million through Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act funding for the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ research and analysis project on National Incident-Based Reporting System data and hate crime reporting patterns.
    • $2.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Justice for three research projects on responding to hate crimes with specialized law enforcement units, including LGTBQI+ liaison units to respond to hate crimes against transgender individuals, and addressing the needs of survivors of hate crimes and their communities.

    In addition to these new grant awards, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Mizer announced OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Youth Hate Crimes and Identity-Based Bullying Prevention Curriculum to provide resources to address hate crimes, bias incidents and identity-based bullying among youth. The curriculum is designed for middle and high school-aged youth and the teachers, counselors and others who work with them. He also announced the Community Oriented Policing Services (the COPS Office) is launching a new training on investigating hate crimes, which builds on the training the COPS Office released in 2022 on recognizing and reporting hate crimes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The city will put commercial premises in the Troparevo-Nikulino area up for sale

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital will put up for auction a property with a free designation in the Troparevo-Nikulino district. Anyone can take part in the auction.

    “In the fall, investors will be able to take part in an auction to purchase a space of almost 590 square meters. The property is located on the first floor of building 127 on Vernadsky Avenue, which is a 15-minute walk from the Yugo-Zapadnaya station of the Sokolnicheskaya metro line. Any type of activity can be carried out there: opening a pick-up point, a store, a catering outlet. Due to its large area, it is suitable for implementing several business ideas at once,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the Moscow Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    The premises are equipped with offices, which will allow the future owner to organize a shopping and office center or rent out the available space, for example, for travel agency offices, hairdressers and other types of services that are in demand among the population.

    In addition, you can open a business providing household services. Next to the residential building, on the ground floor of which there is a commercial space, there is a hotel.

    The non-residential facility has three separate entrances, two of which face the intersection of Leninsky and Vernadsky Avenues. This arrangement will allow separating the flows of customers, workers and residents of the apartment building.

    All information about the premises put up for auction is presented on the Moscow investment portal. You can learn more about the property being sold by the capital, study the lot documentation and the rules for conducting auctions in the section “Property from the city”.

    Entrepreneurs can purchase 27 commercial premises in the center of the capitalInvestors have purchased almost 90 real estate properties in the Southern Administrative District from the city in six months

    Development of electronic services for business corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Digital Economy”. You can find out more about this and other national projects being implemented in Moscow Here.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144480073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unauthorised email access

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    On 23 September 2024, Perth and Kinross Council detected unauthorised access to a limited number of emails. This incident involved one user’s email account and access to emails containing invoicing data from some of our service providers.

    The breach was identified and secured promptly, but eight emails were accessed. Some of these emails had attachments which may also have been accessed which contained bank account numbers and sort codes of some businesses, individual suppliers and commercial waste customers.

    Rest assured, this incident does not affect recipients of other Council services, such as welfare payments or payments made for Council Tax and housing rent.

    We will directly contact affected individuals to inform them as soon as possible. In the meantime, we urge everyone to be cautious of any unusual emails claiming to be from Perth and Kinross Council. Always verify that emails come from @pkc.gov.uk addresses and be wary of unexpected changes or requests and treat links and attachments with caution. If something seems off, please speak to your usual Council contact using a different communication method than the one given on the email you are concerned about.

    We take the protection of personal and company information very seriously and are very sorry for the inconvenience and concern that this incident has caused.

    Last modified on 26 September 2024

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Integrated development of territories: 25 sports complexes will be built near metro stations, the Moscow Central Circle and the Moscow Central Diameters

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Within the framework of 22 integrated territorial development projects (ITD) located within the boundaries of the capital’s transport framework, 25 sports facilities will be built. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “Implementation of integrated development projects for areas near the stations of the Big Circle Line, Moscow Central Circle and Moscow Central Diameters will create new places for sports in 22 districts of the capital. It is planned to build 25 sports complexes on sites with a total area of 406.6 hectares. Their area will exceed 138 thousand square meters. Among the sports facilities are physical education and health complexes, including swimming pools, as well as a rock climbing center and a complex for team sports,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The locations for the placement of sports facilities and their parameters will be determined based on the results of the approval of territorial planning projects.

    “According to the KRT project, a sports complex with an area of at least four thousand square meters is planned to be built on Novaya Ipatovka Street in Koptevo. Based on the results of the approval of the territory planning project, the construction dates of the facility and its exact parameters will be established. In the north of the capital, it is planned to build a built-in and attached sports and recreation complex with a swimming pool with an area of more than three thousand square meters. It will become part of a new residential quarter in the Begovoy District,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    More than 80 percent of KRT projects involve the construction of real estate near major transport facilities, told earlier Sergei Sobyanin.

    According to the program of integrated development of territories in the capital, multifunctional city quarters are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 236 KRT projects with a total area of more than 3.1 thousand hectares are at various stages of implementation in Moscow. Their development is carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144469073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Illegal business occupants given 14 days to comply with the law

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Businesses illegally occupying government premises in Mthatha have been given 14 days to apply for legal leases from the Eastern Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, should they wish to continue with their businesses on the current premises.

    This was revealed when Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala, together with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Siphokazi Lusithi, issued eviction orders to a number of businesses in the Mthatha CBD as part of Operation Bring Back (OBB), which aims to reclaim hijacked and illegally occupied government properties.

    READ | Reclaiming State property

    “Our aim is not to shut down legally operating businesses, but we want these businesses that are paying rent to criminals, who have stolen government properties, to start paying the rent to the rightful owners of these properties,” the Deputy Minister said on Wednesday.

    Zikalala and Lusithi visited mixed business premises housing offices, driving school, salons, tombstones and a hardware store, where they addressed business owners and workers who voiced their fears of losing their businesses.  

    In the Eastern Cape, there are 82 properties that are currently going through legal channels, including 57 eviction orders. 

    Of these, 21 have been evaluated and are recommended for execution, with a target of completing 36 evictions by the end of the 2024/2025 financial year.  

    All eviction actions will strictly adhere to legal standards and respect tenant rights. The two DPWI leaders allayed the fears of the concerned businesses, promising that should they follow the correct legal routes, their businesses would not be out in the cold.

    “As the province, we are undertaking the Operation Bring Back, which aims at bringing back government properties that are illegally occupied. The illegal occupation of government properties both commercial and residential undermines the state’s capacity to generate revenue and maintain our properties, but even more tragically, it victimizes small business owners who are unaware they are being taken advantage of by these bogus landlords. 

    “In response, we have entered into negotiations with these small businesses to regularize their leases, ensuring that they are protected, and that government assets are not exploited for personal gain,” the MEC said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Aquamotion swim school makes a splash at national awards

    Source: Government of Western Australia

    Wanneroo Aquamotion’s dedicated swim teachers have been recognised with a top gong at the SWIM Australia Awards 2024.

    Held last weekend, the Awards celebrate excellence in aquatic education, with trophies presented to Australia’s top coaches, teachers, trainers and swim schools.

    Wanneroo Aquamotion’s Swim School took home Best Swim School in the Innovation/Team/Staff Development category.

    The team was recognised for their ongoing professional development through expert-led workshops, training opportunities, custom e-learning content, specialist instructor training and team building initiatives.

    SWIM Coaches and Teachers Australia is the peak industry body for swim coaches, teachers and swim schools, representing over 50,000 members and more than 600 swim school members.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Francis in Luxembourg and Belgium (26 to 29 September 2024) – Departure from Rome and Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic

    Source: The Holy See

    Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Francis in Luxembourg and Belgium (26 to 29 September 2024) – Departure from Rome and Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, 26.09.2024
    Departure from Rome
    Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic

    Departure from Rome
    This morning, Pope Francis began his 46th international Apostolic Journey, this time to Luxembourg and Belgium.
    Shortly after 7.00, a group of around ten homeless people, men and women, who shelter at night beneath the colonnade in Saint Peter’s Square or in the streets around it, accompanied by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Almoner of His Holiness, greeted Pope Francis at Santa Marta before his departure.
    The Holy Father then transferred by car to Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome-Fiumicino, from where he departed at 8.29 on board an ITA Airways A321 bound for Luxembourg.
    The aircraft carrying the Holy Father is expected to land at Luxembourg-Findel International Airport at 10.00.

    Telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
    At the moment of leaving Italian territory, the Holy Father Francis sent the following telegram to the President of the Italian Republic, the Honorable Sergio Mattarella:

    HIS EXCELLENCYHON. SERGIO MATTARELLAPRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN REPUBLICQUIRINAL PALACE 00187 ROME
    AS I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON AN APOSTOLIC JOURNEY IN LUXEMBOURG AND BELGIUM, MOVED BY THE KEEN DESIRE TO MEET BROTHERS IN FAITH AND THE INHABITANTS OF THOSE DEAR NATIONS BEARING A MESSAGE OF PEACE AND HOPE, I AM PLEASED TO ADDRESS TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MY RESPECTFUL GREETING, WHICH I ACCOMPANY WITH FERVENT PRAYERS FOR THE GOOD AND PROSPERITY OF THE ENTIRE ITALIAN PEOPLE.
    FRANCISCUS

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Monetary developments in the euro area: August 2024

    Source: European Central Bank

    26 September 2024

    Components of the broad monetary aggregate M3

    The annual growth rate of the broad monetary aggregate M3 increased to 2.9% in August 2024 from 2.3% in July, averaging 2.5% in the three months up to August. The components of M3 showed the following developments. The annual growth rate of the narrower aggregate M1, which comprises currency in circulation and overnight deposits, was -2.1% in August, compared with -3.1% in July. The annual growth rate of short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) decreased to 10.6% in August from 11.4% in July. The annual growth rate of marketable instruments (M3-M2) increased to 22.0% in August from 21.4% in July.

    Chart 1

    Monetary aggregates

    (annual growth rates)

    Data for monetary aggregates

    Looking at the components’ contributions to the annual growth rate of M3, the narrower aggregate M1 contributed -1.4 percentage points (up from -2.1 percentage points in July), short-term deposits other than overnight deposits (M2-M1) contributed 3.0 percentage points (down from 3.2 percentage points) and marketable instruments (M3-M2) contributed 1.3 percentage points (up from 1.2 percentage points).

    Among the holding sectors of deposits in M3, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by households increased to 2.3% in August from 2.1% in July, while the annual growth rate of deposits placed by non-financial corporations stood at 1.8% in August, compared with 1.7% in July. Finally, the annual growth rate of deposits placed by investment funds other than money market funds increased to 11.7% in August from 6.3% in July.

    Counterparts of the broad monetary aggregate M3

    The annual growth rate of M3 in August 2024, as a reflection of changes in the items on the monetary financial institution (MFI) consolidated balance sheet other than M3 (counterparts of M3), can be broken down as follows: net external assets contributed 4.0 percentage points (up from 3.8 percentage points in July), claims on the private sector contributed 1.2 percentage points (up from 0.9 percentage points), claims on general government contributed -0.4 percentage points (as in the previous month), longer-term liabilities contributed -1.8 percentage points (up from -1.9 percentage points), and the remaining counterparts of M3 contributed 0.0 percentage points (up from -0.1 percentage points).

    Chart 2

    Contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3

    (percentage points)

    Data for contribution of the M3 counterparts to the annual growth rate of M3

    Claims on euro area residents

    The annual growth rate of total claims on euro area residents increased to 0.6% in August 2024 from 0.3% in the previous month. The annual growth rate of claims on general government stood at -1.1% in August, unchanged from the previous month, while the annual growth rate of claims on the private sector increased to 1.2% in August from 0.9% in July.

    The annual growth rate of adjusted loans to the private sector (i.e. adjusted for loan transfers and notional cash pooling) increased to 1.6% in August from 1.3% in July. Among the borrowing sectors, the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to households stood at 0.6% in August, compared with 0.5% in July, while the annual growth rate of adjusted loans to non-financial corporations increased to 0.8% in August from 0.6% in July.

    Chart 3

    Adjusted loans to the private sector

    (annual growth rates)

    Data for adjusted loans to the private sector

    Notes:

    • Data in this press release are adjusted for seasonal and end-of-month calendar effects, unless stated otherwise.
    • “Private sector” refers to euro area non-MFIs excluding general government.
    • Hyperlinks lead to data that may change with subsequent releases as a result of revisions. Figures shown in annex tables are a snapshot of the data as at the time of the current release.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Repatriation of remains of fallen struggle heroes a moment of reflection

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The South African government has received the remains of 49 liberation fighters who died in exile in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

    The remains were received at the Waterkloof Airforce Base on an emotional Wednesday evening (25 September 2024) for families of the fallen freedom fighters.

    Speaking to SAnews, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, said the handover of the remains was a moment of sombre reflection on the sacrifices it took for South Africa to gain its freedom.

    “The message is of gratitude to…families who have daughters, sons, fathers and mothers who gave the ultimate price for our freedom. We are able to be here because they gave the final sacrifice. 

    “It is also for us as a people, to remember where we came from because this didn’t come easy. There are people who died, and we should not be casual about how we use that power because it is a power that came from people who gave their lives,” Motshekga said.

    The Minister added that the repatriation of struggle heroes will continue as there are more struggle heroes who died outside of the country.

    “The plan is to now do mass repatriations and that’s what has been in the plans for the past two years. But because it takes time, we’ll see if we can do it in gaps of two years. This has been a good lesson in terms of mass repatriations and when we move to other countries…we will have learnt the lessons on how to deal with most of the issues,” she said.

    Families remember their heroes

    The remains of freedom fighter  Basil February – who died in Zimbabwe – arrived with the cohort.
    Speaking to SAnews, his brother Terry said the return of his remains marks the beginning of healing for the family.

    “My mother died 11 years ago and…I would like my mother to have been here. I would have liked for this occasion to have happened 12 or 15 years ago, so that she could have been here. My mother died when she was 92 years old. She asked me to make her a promise that I will bring Basil’s remains home and I said I will. Today is such a historic day for our family.

    “It does not yet bring closure. It will take a little while. This whole process has…opened some old, deep wounds and it will take a while for those wounds to heal. 

    “But I can feel that the process has already started. That closure is starting to kick in. I feel a relief and I feel a genuine excitedness because Basil is finally coming home,” February said.

    Onica Mahlangu – whose brother Bennet Sibanyoni died in Zambia nearly 40 years ago – described to SAnews, the peacefulness that her brother’s remains brings as the brutal Apartheid security forces took everything that belonged to him – leaving them with nothing to remember him by.

    “I have mixed emotions. I feel like this is the first time I have been informed of his death. That’s how much it still hurts. Unfortunately, my mother died with a broken heart…crying for her son. She pleaded with us not to stop searching for his remains. I feel happy that government has not forgotten us and has helped us.

    “The repatriation will bring peace to our spirits…our family was tortured. We didn’t even have a photo of him because the Apartheid government took everything that belonged to him and left us with nothing that we could look at and remember him by,” Mahlangu said.

    Makabelo Msiza remarked to SAnews that without government, they would not have been able to bring her brother home.

    “I am filled with joy because we finally have my sibling back. I know where I will bury him and even when I miss him, I will now know where to go to visit him at his gravesite. I will bury him near my parents’ graves.

    “President [Cyril] Ramaphosa has done such a big thing for us. I have been on this road [of trying to get the remains] since Mandela was alive. I have knocked on many doors with no help but today, because of President Cyril Ramaphosa, everything has now been resolved and we can bury our loved ones in peace,” Msiza said. 

    President Ramaphosa is expected to lead a repatriation and restitution ceremony for the remains at the Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum in Tshwane on Friday.

    In a statement on Monday, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said that following the arrival of the remains,  government will host the official homecoming ceremony to mark the return of these liberation fighters to the country of their birth.

    “Thereafter, reburial ceremonies will be held in the provinces of their origin, ensuring they are laid to rest with the dignity and respect they deserve,” said the GCIS.

    The Exile Repatriation Programme is guided by the National Policy of Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects of 2021. This policy was adopted as part of South Africa’s broader commitment to ensuring that former liberation fighters who died in exile are returned home and buried with dignity.

    The repatriation process is being conducted in close collaboration with regional governments, historical experts, and local communities to guarantee a respectful and well-coordinated return.

    READ | Homecoming ceremony for former liberation fighters

     – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press release: PM meeting with President da Silva of Brazil: 25 September 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street

    The Prime Minister met President Luiz Inacio da Silva at UNGA this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister met President Luiz Inacio da Silva at UNGA this afternoon.

    They discussed their shared commitment to tackling global challenges, including the importance of global ambition on climate change and poverty.

    The Prime Minister congratulated President Lula on his leadership on tackling both these challenges as President of the G20 and looked forward to the Summit in Rio. 

    The leaders shared their plans to accelerate the energy transition at home and internationally, and agreed to work closely on this agenda including for COP30.

    The Prime Minister also confirmed strong support for President Lula’s G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.

    They also discussed the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon. The Prime Minister set out his steadfast support for Ukraine and upholding the UN Charter. On the Middle East, the Leaders underlined the importance of ceasefires in both Lebanon and in Gaza.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Easing Africa’s debt burdens: a fresh approach, based on an old idea

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

    The statistics are stark: 54 governments, of which 25 are African, are spending at least 10% of their revenues on servicing their debts; 48 countries, home to 3.3 billion people, are spending more on debt service than on health or education.

    Among them, 23 African countries are spending more on debt service than on health or education.

    While the international community stands by, these countries are servicing their debts and defaulting on their development goals.

    The Group of 20’s current approach for dealing with the debts of low income countries is the Common Framework.

    It requires the debtor to first discuss its problems with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and obtain its assessment of how much debt relief it needs. Then it must negotiate with its official creditors – international organisations, governments and government agencies – over how much debt relief they will provide. Only then can the debtor reach an agreement – on comparable terms to the official creditors – with its commercial creditors.

    Unfortunately, this process has been sub-optimal.

    One reason is that it works too slowly to meet the urgent needs of distressed borrowers. As a result, it condemns debtor countries to financial limbo. The resulting uncertainty is not in anyone’s interest. For example, Zambia has been working through the G20’s cumbersome process for more than three and a half years and has not yet finalised agreements with all its creditors.

    The need for a new approach is overwhelmingly evident. Although the current crisis has not yet become the “systemic” threat it was in the 1980s when multiple countries defaulted on their debt, it is a “silent” sovereign debt crisis.

    We propose a two-part approach that would improve the situation of sovereign debtors and their creditors. This proposal is based on the lessons we have learned from our work on the legal and economic aspects of developing country debt, particularly African debt.

    First, we suggest that official creditors and the IMF create a strategic buyer of “last resort” that can purchase the bonds of debt distressed countries and refinance them on better terms.

    Second, we recommend that all parties involved in sovereign debt restructurings adopt a set of principles that they can use to guide the debtor and its creditors in reaching an optimal agreement and monitoring its implementation.

    The current approach fails to deal effectively and fairly with both the concerns of the creditors and all the debtor’s legal obligations and responsibilities. Our proposed solution would offer debtors debt relief that does not undermine their ability to meet their other legal obligations and responsibilities, while also accommodating private creditors’ preference for cash payments.

    Our proposal is not risk-free. And buybacks are not appropriate for all debtors. Nevertheless it offers a principled and feasible approach to dealing with a silent debt crisis that threatens to undermine international efforts to address global challenges such as climate, poverty and inequality.

    It uses the IMF’s existing resources to meet both the bondholders’ preferences for immediate cash and the developing countries’ need to reduce their debt burdens in a transparent and principled way.

    It also helps the international community avoid a widespread default on debt and development.

    Bondholders are a major problem

    Foreign bondholders, who are the major creditors of many developing countries, have proven to be particularly challenging in providing substantive debt relief in a timely manner. In theory, they should be more flexible than official creditors.

    Developing countries have been paying bondholders a premium to compensate them for providing financing to borrowers that are perceived to be risky. As a result, bondholders have already received larger payouts than official creditors. Therefore, they should be better placed than official creditors to assist the debtor in the restructuring processes.

    However, despite having received large returns from defaulted bonds, bondholders have remained obstinate in debt restructurings.

    Our proposal seeks to overcome this hurdle in a way that is fair to debtors, creditors and their respective stakeholders.

    How it would work

    First, the official creditors and the IMF should create and fund a strategic buyer “of last resort” who can purchase distressed (and expensive) debt at a discount from bondholders. The buyer, now the creditor of the country in distress, can repackage the debt and sell it to the debtor country on more manageable terms. The net result is that the bondholders receive cash for their bonds, while the debtor country benefits from substantial debt relief. In addition, the debtor and its remaining official creditors benefit from a simplified debt restructuring process.

    This concept has precedent. In 1989, as part of the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, the international community’s effort to deal with the then existing debt burdens of poor countries, the World Bank Group established the Debt Reduction Facility, which helped eligible governments repurchase their external commercial debts at deep discounts. It completed 25 transactions which helped erase approximately US$10.3 billion in debt principal and over US$3.5 billion in interest arrears.

    Some individual countries have also bought back their own debt. In 2009, Ecuador repurchased 93% of its defaulted debt at a deep discount. This enabled the government to reduce its debt stock by 27% and promote economic growth in subsequent years.

    Unfortunately, the countries currently in debt distress lack sufficient foreign reserves to pursue such a strategy. Hence, they need to find a “friendly” buyer of last resort.

    The IMF is well positioned to play this role. It has the mandate to support countries during financial crises. It also has the resources to fund such a facility. It can use a mix of its own resources, including its gold reserves, and donor funding, such as a portion of the US$100 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), the IMF’s own reserve currency, which rich economies committed to reallocate for development purposes.

    Such a facility, for example, would have enabled Kenya to refinance its debts at the SDR interest rate, currently at 3.75% per year, rather than at the 10.375% rate it paid in the financial markets.

    It is noteworthy that the 47 low-income countries identified as in need of debt relief have just US$60 billion in outstanding debts owed to bondholders. Our proposed buyer of last resort would help reduce the burden of these countries to manageable levels.

    Second, we propose that both debtors and creditors should commit to the following set of shared principles, based on internationally accepted norms and standards for debt restructurings.

    Guiding principles

    1. Guiding norms: Sovereign debt restructurings should be guided by six norms: credibility, responsibility, good faith, optimality, inclusiveness and effectiveness.

    Optimality means that the negotiating parties should aim to achieve an outcome that, considering the circumstances in which the parties are negotiating and their respective rights, obligations and responsibilities, offers each of them the best possible mix of economic, financial, environmental, social, human rights and governance benefits.

    2. Transparency: All parties should have access to the information that they need to make informed decisions.

    3. Due diligence: The sovereign debtor and its creditors should each undertake appropriate due diligence before concluding a sovereign debt restructuring process.

    4. Optimal outcome assessment: The parties should publicly disclose why they expect their restructuring agreement to result in an optimal outcome.

    5. Monitoring: There should be credible mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the restructuring agreement.

    6. Inter-creditor comparability: All creditors should make a comparable contribution to the restructuring of debt.

    7. Fair burden sharing: The burden of the restructuring should be fairly allocated between the negotiating parties.

    8. Maintaining market access: The process should be designed to facilitate future market access for the borrower at affordable rates.

    The G20’s current efforts to address the silent debt crisis are failing. They are contributing to the likely failure of low income countries in Africa and the rest of the global south to offer all their residents the possibility of leading lives of dignity and opportunity.

    Danny Bradlow, in addition to his university position, is Co-Chair of the T20 task force on sovereign debt, and Co-Chair of the Academic Circle on the Right to Development.

    Marina Zucker-Marques is a co-chair for the Brazil T20 Task Force 3 on reforming the International Financial Architecture

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

    – ref. Easing Africa’s debt burdens: a fresh approach, based on an old idea – https://theconversation.com/easing-africas-debt-burdens-a-fresh-approach-based-on-an-old-idea-239427

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM meeting with President da Silva of Brazil: 25 September 2024

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Prime Minister met President Luiz Inacio da Silva at UNGA this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister met President Luiz Inacio da Silva at UNGA this afternoon.

    They discussed their shared commitment to tackling global challenges, including the importance of global ambition on climate change and poverty.

    The Prime Minister congratulated President Lula on his leadership on tackling both these challenges as President of the G20 and looked forward to the Summit in Rio. 

    The leaders shared their plans to accelerate the energy transition at home and internationally, and agreed to work closely on this agenda including for COP30.

    The Prime Minister also confirmed strong support for President Lula’s G20 Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.

    They also discussed the conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon. The Prime Minister set out his steadfast support for Ukraine and upholding the UN Charter. On the Middle East, the Leaders underlined the importance of ceasefires in both Lebanon and in Gaza.

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Renovation program: a residential building will appear near the Krymskaya MCC station

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A house will be built in the Kotlovka district under the renovation program. The Committee for Architecture and Urban Development of the City of Moscow (Moskomarkhitektura) has already issued an urban development plan for a land plot of 1.74 hectares. This was reported by Juliana Knyazhevskaya, chairman of the department.

    The area for future development is located at the address: Vinokurova Street, land plot No. 22/1.

    “The new building with a maximum area of 102 thousand square meters will appear in an actively renewed capital district with modern public spaces, parks, social and commercial facilities. The residential building is located near the Krymskaya station of the Moscow Central Circle,” added Yuliana Knyazhevskaya.

    Renovation program housing was approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. In 2023 alone, 59 new buildings in the capital were handed over for settlement and the resettlement of over 47 thousand people was ensured. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin instructed to double the pace of implementation of the renovation program.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction rates and volumes. Over the past few years, within the framework of the federal project “Housing” of the national project “Housing and Urban Environment” the volume of construction and commissioning of residential buildings in the capital has doubled – from three to five to seven million square meters per year. More information about this and other national projects being implemented in Moscow can be found Here.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144484073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FEHD releases results of applications for new niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (September 26) conducted an open lot drawing and computer balloting for applications for new extendable niches at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium Phase VI in Fanling and Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium in Eastern District, and the results have been released. Niches were allocated to all 9 703 eligible applicants.

         A spokesman for the FEHD said, “For this annual allocation exercise, regardless of whether the option of a niche at Wo Hop Shek Columbarium or Cape Collinson-San Ha Columbarium, the applicant will be allocated with an extendable niche at the venue. The FEHD conducted drawing of lots and computer balloting today to determine the exact location of the niches to the applicants and the priority of all eligible applications.

         “The ballot results have been uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) for applicants’ checking by using their application number and identity card number. Applicants can also visit the FEHD’s Hong Kong or Kowloon Cemeteries and Crematoria Offices, Public Niche Allocation Office or call the hotline 2841 9111 to check the results from tomorrow (September 27). The FEHD will also notify the applicants by WhatsApp/SMS and email of the location of the niche allocated. Afterwards, the FEHD will inform the applicants in batches, according to their priorities, through letter/WhatsApp/SMS and email about the detailed arrangements for completing the allocation procedures and making payment.”

         The spokesman reminds applicants that the FEHD will not include any hyperlinks related to payment or website when sending messages and emails to notify them. Applicants should check the information and go through the procedures through the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk) to deter scammers.

         In addition, the public who missed the annual allocation may consider applying for the monthly allocation of niches at Tsang Tsui Columbarium in Tuen Mun. The FEHD also encourages the public to adopt green burials, including scattering of cremated ashes in Gardens of Remembrance or designated waters for supporting environmental sustainability and enduring love. For details, please browse the FEHD green burial thematic website (www.greenburial.gov.hk/en/home/index.html).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The city will allocate land for the construction of an educational complex in the Moskvorechye-Saburovo district

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    As part of the implementation of a large-scale investment project, the city will provide an investor with a land plot without bidding for the construction of an educational complex in the Moskvorechye-Saburovo district. A modern residential area with social infrastructure, commercial real estate and public spaces is being built here. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The city will allocate 2.9 hectares of land to the developer to implement a large-scale investment project – the construction of an educational facility in the south of the capital. The institution will be one of the largest in Moscow. It will be designed for 2.5 thousand schoolchildren and 500 kindergarten students. It is also planned to build a modern sports complex,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    A large-scale investment project is a special status that investors can receive for the construction of facilities aimed at developing urban infrastructure and creating jobs. The lease agreements for the sites are planned to be concluded for five years.

    “In Moskvorechye-Saburovo, near the residential quarter under construction in the area of 2nd Kotlyakovsky Lane, it is planned to allocate two plots: 1.74 hectares for the construction of an educational complex and 1.16 hectares for the construction of a sports core. The future sports center next to the educational complex will include a multifunctional stadium with football, volleyball and tennis courts. A running track will be laid around, as well as two workout zones and a long jump pit,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property

    Maxim Gaman.

    The residential complex in the south of the capital already includes 10 buildings with non-residential ground floors, a school for 900 students and a kindergarten designed for 160 children. In addition, a pedestrian boulevard and an outdoor sports area have been built here – with exercise machines, a pump track for adults and children, football, volleyball and basketball courts, as well as a grandstand for spectators. A track for rollerblading, scootering, cycling and skateboarding runs around the sports cluster.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/144477073/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: ASIA/INDIA – Archbishop Neli: In Manipur the path to peace is not made with weapons and separation walls

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –

    Source: The Holy See in Italian

    Displaced people in Manipur

    by Paolo AffatatoImphal (Agenzia Fides) – “Peace and reconciliation in Manipur cannot be based on the separation of ethnic communities; they will not be achieved by building a new dividing wall on the border with Myanmar, the one that the state plans to build for over 1600 kilometres”. It is the vision of Msgr. Linus Neli, Archbishop of Imphal, capital of the Indian state of Manipur. “Peace – continues the Archbishop – will not be achieved even through the rearmament of ethnic groups, as is dangerously happening among the Kuki and Meitei communities. Peace will be achieved by reactivating dialogue, starting negotiations, proceeding on a path of equality and justice that overcomes atavistic rivalries and ethnic claims”. In an interview with Agenzia Fides, the Archbishop re-reads the crisis that has been year grips the state of north-eastern India. The Archbishop frames the issue in the ethnic and cultural configuration of the north-eastern region of India, “a region with its own specific dimension, characterized by ethnic, linguistic and cultural pluralism”. North-eastern India includes the seven states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, as well as the Himalayan state of Sikkim, and the Jalpaiguri division, legally part of West Bengal. “It is also geographically secluded – he notes – if you consider that it is connected to the rest of the country via a narrow corridor between Bhutan and Bangladesh, the Siliguri corridor. This geographical characteristic is not irrelevant, even with respect to relations with the central government in New Delhi”, he observes. The region has often been crossed in the past by conflicts and social, ethnic and political tensions. At the time of their establishment, “the North-Eastern States – recalls the Archbishop – were created to allow their respective indigenous communities to safeguard their identity and make their specific contribution to the Indian Federation, with the particular resources of their cultural heritage. Furthermore, some tribal groups are infinitely small communities and are only now entering the highly competitive world of modern India”. Furthermore, north-eastern India is one of the regions where, overall, the concentration of citizens of the Christian faith is greatest in India: Of the approximately 27.8 million Christians in the whole of India, approximately 7.8 million are found in the Northeast region. “This also entails our responsibility in promoting peace, justice, brotherhood between people and groups of different faiths, languages, cultures and ethnic groups”, states the Archbishop. Neli then outlines the internal situation of Manipur where “there are three main ethnic groups: the Kuki, the Meitei, the Naga. Coexistence and intercommunity relations have not been easy in the past. There is a discussion about ‘who was there originally’, therefore about who can claim greater rights in social life, as the Kuki came centuries ago (starting from the 16th century, ed.) from neighboring Myanmar (where they are called Chin, ed.). The confrontation, and even the conflict, has always had a central theme: the possession of land, which is the source of sustenance and prosperity. Even today’s clash between Kuki and Meitei is no exception: it is fundamentally a clash over the land and the politics of the land”, he explains. “Geographically – always the element of geography which cannot be ignored, he is keen to say – the Meitei today hold about 10% of the land and are based in the valley where the capital Imphal is located. The other groups, Naga and Kuki, are in the hilly and mountainous areas, occupy around 90% of the territory, and are included in the list of ‘recognised tribes’.” They are those historically marginalized tribes to which the Indian Constitution recognizes specific property rights, and indicates them as recipients of specific development, education and land allocation programs. In March 2023, an order of the High Court of Manipur recommended to the central government to also include the Meitei community among the “recognized tribes” and this generated the protest which then resulted in clashes and generalized conflict. “It must be said that the Meiteis are a numerical minority but they are a political majority, controlling the local government (the Prime Minister of the state is N. Biren Singh, member of the Baratiya Janata Party, that of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ed.), and over the years they have carried out policies that, according to other groups, discriminate against tribals.” Added to this is the religious element, given that the Meitei are of the Hindu religion and live – an exception in India – as a minority in a state with a majority Christian population. “There has also been, in recent years, an attempt to colonize the territory by Hindu extremists”, notes the Pastor of the Catholic community of Imphal. “Among other things – he adds, providing an element that complicates the picture, which did not emerge in the mass media – the destruction of Christian chapels during the conflict is due to the religious clash within the Meitei community, which then reunited to turn to the ‘common enemy’, the Kuki”. of community and fraternity and help to see the other not as an enemy, but as a brother and sister with whom to coexist peacefully. Faith in Christ helps to bring peace and justice”. The Archbishop recounts the current situation of absolute separation, with military checkpoints between the areas inhabited by Meitei and Kuki, who cannot go to each other’s areas: ” This division, in the short term, interrupted the spiral of conflict, but it is not enough, because it has not healed the traumas and wounds (over 220 victims and 67,000 displaced persons), nor has it calmed the hatred and revenge: in fact currently all the communities they are proceeding to rearm, organizing themselves with increasingly heavier armaments. Which gives the sense of the powder keg ready to respond. And, if that were the case, with the use of those weapons, it would be an even bloodier conflict”, he notes. In this context, Archbishop Neli, who is of the Naga ethnic group, considered “neutral”, can visit the parishes in the different areas , where there are priests (76 in the diocese) who are also divided by ethnicity. “Being a Naga I can visit and comfort various communities. Some religious people and priests who come from the Indian state of Kerala (in southern India) can also do so, and therefore are not parties to the proceedings. I can say that, from my visits, I have drawn a clear will: people are hungry and thirsty for peace. It is urgent to seek and pursue a political solution with all our energies,” he says, recounting the situation of over 1,000 Kuki Catholic refugees, who have had to leave areas such as the city of Imphal, where they lived in the past. “The Catholic community is offering them assistance and sustenance and we have also built small wooden houses where they can stay,” he reports. At a political level, the Archbishop expresses doubts about the road map for solving the crisis, presented by the central government , by Interior Minister Amit Shah because “the central government has neglected Manipur and the response to the management of the violence has not been adequate, there has not been a clear political vision, while now the social, employment and economic crisis of the country is worsening ‘entire state, blocked in the stalemate of lack of communication between regions and groups, with negative consequences for businesses, schools, socio-economic activities”. Furthermore, fearing infiltration of Kuki militants from Myanmar, the government has begun to build a barrier to border that should seal a frontier of 1600 kilometres, “which means institutionalizing separations, reasoning according to the logic of division which exasperates souls and foments hatred”, he notes. Politics, adds Archbishop Neli, “should think about concrete solutions such as the possible creation of two different autonomous administrative units or – another proposal that has emerged – that the Kuki districts become a Union Territory, i.e. directly dependent on the central government. But every proposal can only start from a dialogue, from a mediation, from a negotiation, which takes into account the need to find geographical and then socio-cultural harmony”. “This process – concludes Neli – starts from a basic assumption which must be welcomed by all: recognizing the other as a ‘brother in humanity’, the ground that allows coexistence even between peoples different in language, history, ethnicity, culture, religion. For this reason we are also inspired by Pope Francis’ document ‘Fratelli tutti’, whose spirit we hope can be welcomed by Christians and non-Christians”. (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2024)

    Archbishop Linus Neli

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    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Meeting with the Nai Qala association – a message of hope for the rural populations of Afghanistan

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    On August 19, 2024, the President of the Council of State, Ms. Nathalie Fontanet, met with Ms. Taïba Rahim, President of the Nai Qala association, an organization supported by the canton which manages education projects for populations living in isolated areas of Afghanistan.

    This meeting provided an opportunity to review the general situation in the country and more specifically that of women and girls, and to better understand the realities experienced by the inhabitants of rural and remote regions of the country. The approach of the organization, created in 2007, aims to strengthen the dignity, self-confidence and sense of initiative of the population and women in particular.

    Since 2017, the canton of Geneva has supported various community education projects in several regions in the centre of the country, notably through the construction of schools. The project currently funded by the canton includes various activities, such as the opening of community classes and the provision of materials. The project also includes a training component for teachers from local communities, as well as workshops to prevent violence against children and within families.

    Taïba Rahim, a life for education.

    Taïba comes from a rural and precarious region of Afghanistan. Born into a family of 8 children, it was her father who insisted that all his children, including his daughters, could go to school. This humble man of modest means had a very clear vision: to give a different future to his nine children, especially his daughters, and to lift them out of poverty. To achieve his mission, there was only one watchword: study. Since there was no school in the region where they lived, her father decided to leave their village, his job and his status to settle in the city, where his children could go to school. Life there is very difficult, but the children can finally go to school.

    Taïba then continued her studies, until she became a secondary school teacher. Life then led her to work for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan, then in Bosnia and Geneva, where she remained for many years.

    In 2007, when she felt like she was drifting away from her father’s mission and from Afghanistan, she decided to create an association to promote education in her home country. This is how Nai Qala was born. The association is named after her father’s native village, and also means “calligraphy castle”. Through her education project, Taïba shares a message of hope for Afghanistan. She wants to show the world that Afghanistan is the country of calligraphy, not war and poverty. She regrets that the world has a brutal vision of her country. Taïba is deeply grateful to her father, because it is thanks to him that she was able to realize and achieve her professional aspirations.

    Today, Nai Qala is one of the few women-led organizations in Afghanistan. Through its educational projects, it has a significant impact on hundreds of women and girls, and offers hope in the face of the current challenges facing the country. Taiba strongly believes that Nai Qala is a key player in the Afghan community, led by Afghans for Afghans, with the guiding principle of always “getting involved in difficult times.” According to her, the various supports she receives for the Nai Qala project exemplify the true essence of humanity and inspire hope that Afghanistan, in these difficult times, will move towards a brighter future.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appeal to trace relatives of the late Joseph Powell

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Joseph Powell had been a resident in a care home prior to his death.

    Anyone who is related to Mr Powell, or who has any information which may help trace his relatives, is asked to please call Protection and Funerals Officer Diane Doré on 07919 626117 or 01902 550095, or email her via diane.dore@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Bell Labs and e& announce R&D collaboration to innovate for strategic industrial sectors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia Bell Labs and e& announce R&D collaboration to innovate for strategic industrial sectors

    • Collaboration is expected to develop AI-based use cases for strategic industrial sectors.
    • Responsible AI solutions aim for sustainable enterprise and industrial automation applications.

    26 September 2024
    Espoo, Finland – Nokia’s research arm, Nokia Bell Labs, and e&, a global technology group, announced today that they have signed a year-long, non-binding memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) for R&D collaboration to create AI-based use cases for strategic industrial sectors.

    The goal is to develop responsible AI solutions for sustainable enterprise and industrial automation applications and accelerate innovation concepts toward real world deployments.

    The MoU includes exploring collaboration opportunities with industry, universities and research centers. Both organizations aim to develop innovative solutions in the areas of AI and information and communication technologies that fit into an overall vision of industrial automation and digitalization. Network connectivity, AI and advanced computing are foundational in solving the difficult industrial challenges of productivity, efficiency, safety, health and sustainability faced by many industrial sectors today.

    e& has emerged as a pioneering force of AI and Generative AI in the United Arab Emirates and its 33 operating markets in addition to declaring its commitment to reach net zero status in its home market of the UAE by 2030 and across all operations by 2040.

    Nokia Bell Labs is an industry leader in Responsible AI and has defined six principles to guide AI research in the future along the lines of fairness, reliability, privacy, transparency, sustainability and accountability. These principles not only reflect the future of AI standards but also comprehensively account for the telecom industry’s renewed focus on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and good governance.

    Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, said: “This engagement between Nokia Bell Labs and e& reflects our commitment to innovating with our customers and partners. By jointly developing applications and use cases that leverage our expertise in responsible AI, software and data systems, we will accelerate the digital transformation that provides new technologies for a safer, more productive and more sustainable future. We look forward to co-creating ground-breaking solutions that can unlock new business opportunities for industrial operations in the Middle East and beyond.”

    Dena Almansoori, Group Chief AI and Data Officer at e&, said: “While we realise the immense potential of AI, it’s equally important to build strong protections to ensure its responsible development and deployment. This will be the foundation of our collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs as we both explore the potential of AI in driving sustainable industrial automation. By combining Nokia Bell Labs’ expertise in AI research and our deep understanding of industrial applications, we are set to explore the development of innovative solutions that address the urgent challenges facing industries today.”

    Resources and additional information
    Webpage: Nokia Bell Labs
    Webpage: e&

    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.

    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.

    About e&
    e& is one of the leading technology groups in the world. Boasting impressive financial figures for 2023, with consolidated net revenue reaching a staggering AED 53.8 billion and consolidated net profit surging to AED 10.3 billion, the Group’s impeccable credit ratings reflect its strong balance sheet and track record of sustained success.

    Founded in Abu Dhabi over 48 years ago, the Group has a rich legacy as the pioneer in telecommunications in the UAE. Today, its footprint spans 33 countries, including STARZPLAY and Careem Everything app across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, making it a leading player in the industry.

    Innovation is ingrained in e&’s DNA to create an unbreakable bond between communities using cutting-edge digital solutions, smart connectivity and advanced technologies.

    The Group has designed five strong business pillars that address various customer segments: e& UAE, e& international, e& life, e& enterprise and e& capital. Through these pillars, we strive to revolutionise the way people communicate, work and live by providing unparalleled services and exceptional experiences.

    At e&, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and delivering measurable results that make a difference in people’s lives.

    To learn more about e&, please visit: https://eand.com/. 

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: French artist Winshluss nominated for 2024 Töpffer Grand Prix for Comics

    MIL OSI Translation. Government of the Republic of France statements from French to English –

    Source: Switzerland – Canton Government of Geneva in French

    A prolific and multifaceted author, Winshluss – Vincent Paronnaud by his real name – is rewarded for his entire body of work in drawing. The six authors nominated respectively for the Töpffer Prize Geneva and the Töpffer Prize for Young Comics are now known. The Töpffer Prizes will be awarded during a public ceremony at HEAD – Geneva on Thursday, November 28.

    Since 2018, the Grand Prix Töpffer has distinguished a French-speaking author or author translated into French for the importance of their contribution to contemporary comics. On the proposal of a jury made up of experts in the field, the canton and the City of Geneva have decided to award the Grand Prix Töpffer 2024, with a prize of 10,000 francs, to the French comic book author and filmmaker Winshluss.

    Born in 1970, Winshluss is a self-taught artist and jack-of-all-trades with a unique trajectory. He started out in comics in the mid-1990s by publishing his drawings in fanzines. At the turn of the 2000s, he established himself as a leading author for Requins Marteaux, an underground publishing house. His biting and often dark style, his scathing humor and the critical look he takes at our society in its dehumanizing aspects hit the mark.

    It was in 2009 that he became known to the general public by winning the Fauve d’or at the Angoulême festival with Pinocchio, a pop and trashy reinterpretation of the tale of the same name. Acclaimed by the public and critics alike and translated into a dozen countries, the album has become a classic of independent comics. In 2016, Winshluss received the Pépite d’or at the Montreuil Youth Book Fair for Dans la forêt sombre et mystérieuse, a book which – unusually for the author – ends well. In addition to his rich work in drawing, Winshluss is also a musician, visual artist and filmmaker. He notably co-directed the animated film Persepolis with Marjane Satrapi, which won the Jury Prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

    Six authors in the running in other categories

    Increasingly recognized in the world of comics, the Töpffer Awards have been awarded since 1997 in tribute to the Genevan Rodolphe Töpffer, considered the inventor of the 9th art. The ceremony on November 28 will also be an opportunity to recognize the 2024 winners of the Töpffer Geneva Prize, worth 10,000 francs, and the Young Comics Prize, worth 5,000 francs.

    For the Prix Töpffer Genève, which rewards a confirmed Geneva comic strip personality for an album published less than a year ago, the three nominated authors are Alex Baladi (1969) for Un monde en pleine mutation (Atrabile editions), Ibn Al Rabin (1975) for De la ductilité du sbrinz (Atrabile editions), and Juliette Mancini (1989) for La haine du poil (Cambourakis editions).

    Concerning the Young Comic Strip Prize, which rewards a project in progress by an author aged 15 to 30 and living or studying in Geneva, the three nominees are Jano (2002) for La Dragonne, Fanny Rose (2002) for On dit que c’est une étamine libre, and Stanyslas Leray (2000) for La Gwerz de l’ajonc. The first two works mentioned were produced as part of the diploma projects of the Geneva School of Comics and Illustration (ESBDI), while the third is the result of a bachelor’s thesis at HEAD – Geneva.

    For this 2024 edition, the selection jury is composed as follows: Hélène Becquelin (comic book author), Patrick Fuchs (dean of ESBDI), Yannis La Macchia (Töpffer Prize Geneva 2023), Clément Paurd (head of the illustration orientation at HEAD – Geneva), Emmanuèle Payen (director of the cultural development and cinema department at the Centre Pompidou), and Leticia Ramos (head of the Cumulus specialist bookstore).

    Festive evening to celebrate comics

    The 2024 Töpffer Comic Strip Awards will be presented on Thursday, November 28, during a ceremony attended by Thierry Apothéloz, State Councilor in charge of the Department of Social Cohesion, and Sami Kanaan, Administrative Councilor of the City of Geneva in charge of the Department of Culture and Digital Transition. This festive event, with public and free admission, will be held at the Cube on the HEAD – Geneva campus. The precise program will be announced soon.

    Artist biographies and press images are available at http://www.prixtopffer.ch.

    Please note that Winshluss, Grand Prix Töpffer 2024, will be in Geneva during the week of November 25, where he will give a workshop at the ESBDI. Media interested in an interview or a report can register at the contact details below.

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia Bell Labs and e& announce R&D collaboration to innovate for strategic industrial sectors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia Bell Labs and e& announce R&D collaboration to innovate for strategic industrial sectors

    • Collaboration is expected to develop AI-based use cases for strategic industrial sectors.
    • Responsible AI solutions aim for sustainable enterprise and industrial automation applications.

    26 September 2024
    Espoo, Finland – Nokia’s research arm, Nokia Bell Labs, and e&, a global technology group, announced today that they have signed a year-long, non-binding memorandum of understanding (“MoU”) for R&D collaboration to create AI-based use cases for strategic industrial sectors.

    The goal is to develop responsible AI solutions for sustainable enterprise and industrial automation applications and accelerate innovation concepts toward real world deployments.

    The MoU includes exploring collaboration opportunities with industry, universities and research centers. Both organizations aim to develop innovative solutions in the areas of AI and information and communication technologies that fit into an overall vision of industrial automation and digitalization. Network connectivity, AI and advanced computing are foundational in solving the difficult industrial challenges of productivity, efficiency, safety, health and sustainability faced by many industrial sectors today.

    e& has emerged as a pioneering force of AI and Generative AI in the United Arab Emirates and its 33 operating markets in addition to declaring its commitment to reach net zero status in its home market of the UAE by 2030 and across all operations by 2040.

    Nokia Bell Labs is an industry leader in Responsible AI and has defined six principles to guide AI research in the future along the lines of fairness, reliability, privacy, transparency, sustainability and accountability. These principles not only reflect the future of AI standards but also comprehensively account for the telecom industry’s renewed focus on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and good governance.

    Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia, said: “This engagement between Nokia Bell Labs and e& reflects our commitment to innovating with our customers and partners. By jointly developing applications and use cases that leverage our expertise in responsible AI, software and data systems, we will accelerate the digital transformation that provides new technologies for a safer, more productive and more sustainable future. We look forward to co-creating ground-breaking solutions that can unlock new business opportunities for industrial operations in the Middle East and beyond.”

    Dena Almansoori, Group Chief AI and Data Officer at e&, said: “While we realise the immense potential of AI, it’s equally important to build strong protections to ensure its responsible development and deployment. This will be the foundation of our collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs as we both explore the potential of AI in driving sustainable industrial automation. By combining Nokia Bell Labs’ expertise in AI research and our deep understanding of industrial applications, we are set to explore the development of innovative solutions that address the urgent challenges facing industries today.”

    Resources and additional information
    Webpage: Nokia Bell Labs
    Webpage: e&

    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.

    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.

    About e&
    e& is one of the leading technology groups in the world. Boasting impressive financial figures for 2023, with consolidated net revenue reaching a staggering AED 53.8 billion and consolidated net profit surging to AED 10.3 billion, the Group’s impeccable credit ratings reflect its strong balance sheet and track record of sustained success.

    Founded in Abu Dhabi over 48 years ago, the Group has a rich legacy as the pioneer in telecommunications in the UAE. Today, its footprint spans 33 countries, including STARZPLAY and Careem Everything app across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, making it a leading player in the industry.

    Innovation is ingrained in e&’s DNA to create an unbreakable bond between communities using cutting-edge digital solutions, smart connectivity and advanced technologies.

    The Group has designed five strong business pillars that address various customer segments: e& UAE, e& international, e& life, e& enterprise and e& capital. Through these pillars, we strive to revolutionise the way people communicate, work and live by providing unparalleled services and exceptional experiences.

    At e&, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible and delivering measurable results that make a difference in people’s lives.

    To learn more about e&, please visit: https://eand.com/. 

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

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