NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Announces Settlement with California-Based HomeOptions over Predatory Real Estate Scheme

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    HomeOptions must terminate all liens and contracts in California and pay over $570,000 in penalties and restitution to homeowners 

    OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced reaching a settlement with HomeOptions, a realty company based in Oakland that engaged in a predatory real estate scheme impacting over 500 California homeowners, and its Chief Executive Officer. In partnership with Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley and Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch, Attorney General Bonta launched an investigation into HomeOptions that found the company lured financially vulnerable homeowners with an immediate payment of a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars in exchange for the exclusive right to be the homeowner’s real estate listing agent for the next 20 years, entered into unlawful contracts with those homeowners, deceptively recorded liens against the homeowners’ homes, and forced homeowners to pay tens of thousands of dollars in illegal fees to remove those liens so that they could transfer title or obtain home loans. HomeOptions misrepresented the nature of its agreements, included unlawful breach and early termination penalty terms in its contracts, and violated California’s Real Estate Law, state and federal telemarketing laws, and federal lending laws. As part of the settlement, HomeOptions has agreed to terminate all liens and contracts in California, pay full restitution to victims, and pay civil penalties. 

    “HomeOptions’ business practices can be summed up in one word: predatory. This settlement holds the company accountable and provides immediate relief to California homeowners,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Homeowners will regain full control over their homes, without having to worry about a HomeOptions lien ever again. And homeowners who have already paid early termination penalties to HomeOptions will get all of their money returned. Let there be no doubt that, in California, we will enforce the law against unscrupulous businesses that exploit vulnerable consumers.”

    “Napa will not stand mute to the predation of those who victimize our citizenry,” said Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley. “I am gratified that by our action, all the exclusive listing agreements with California consumers are rendered void and unenforceable.”

    “Homeowners are entitled to be safe in their homes and not fall prey to scams intended to extract their home equity,” said Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch. “This settlement rightly provides full restitution to all victims and prevents HomeOptions and its CEO from engaging in these practices again.” 

    The settlement announced today requires HomeOptions to: 

    • Terminate all liens that it recorded on California homeowners’ homes. Because these liens clouded title, homeowners often could not transfer title or obtain home loans without paying HomeOptions to terminate those liens. By requiring termination of all liens, the settlement will likely save impacted homeowners tens of thousands of dollars each.
    • Void all contracts that it entered into with California homeowners. These contracts required homeowners to pay steep fees if they did not use HomeOptions real estate agents. By voiding these contracts and requiring HomeOptions to stop any enforcement or collection efforts on these contracts, the settlement allows homeowners to list their homes with any real estate agent of their choosing and releases them from all obligations and payments to HomeOptions.
    • Pay full restitution, totaling over $400,000, to homeowners who previously paid HomeOptions illegal fees, including to remove their liens.
    • Pay approximately $170,000 in civil penalties.

    California has passed legislation to prohibit predatory schemes like the one HomeOptions engaged in. On October 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law AB 1345, which Attorney General Bonta sponsored and went into effect on January 1, 2024. AB 1345 imposes a two-year limit on residential exclusive listing agreements and prohibits the filing of those agreements with a county recorder. HomeOptions ceased entering into California homeowner agreements in 2024. 

    A copy of the complaint can be found here. A copy of the stipulated judgment can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout: Justice Department Hosts Roundtables to Address Competition Issues in the Entertainment Industry and Unfair Practices in the Labor Market

    Source: United States Attorneys General 9

    The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division hosted two roundtables today to meet with key stakeholders and market participants to discuss competition issues in the entertainment industry and to identify harmful labor market conduct and how these impact American workers.

    In the first roundtable discussion, Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater convened members of Teamsters Local 25 and Local 804 and legal experts. Roundtable participants shared their personal stories and detailed ways that non-compete agreements, no poach agreements and other forms of unfair practices impact their livelihood. Legal experts, worker advocates and labor economists provided their insightful perspective and strategies to protect American workers.

    In the second roundtable discussion, Assistant Attorney General Slater heard from market participants, advocates and policymakers about unfair practices in the live entertainment market.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterbury Man Guilty of Firearm Offense Related to Gun Trafficking Operation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced a federal jury in New Haven today found LUIS PEREZ, 46, of Waterbury, guilty of a firearm offense related to an extensive gun trafficking investigation.

    According to court documents, statements made in previous court proceedings, and evidence presented during the trial, in May 2023, members of the FBI Waterbury Safe Streets Task Force conducted three controlled purchases of a total of nine firearms, and one controlled purchase of cocaine, from Perez.  An expanded investigation revealed that Perez was acquiring numerous firearms, most of which were purchased by straw purchasers from licensed gun dealers in Kansas and then shipped through the U.S. Mail to a stash location maintained by Perez’s associate, Algelly Diaz, in Hartford.  Perez then sold the firearms, which included assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to others throughout Connecticut.  Perez and Diaz are previously convicted felons who cannot lawfully purchase or possess firearms.

    The investigation further revealed that, between August 2020 and May 2023, one of Perez’s co-conspirators purchased at least 73 firearms from a licensed gun dealer in Deerfield, Kansas. 

    Perez and Diaz were arrested on May 19, 2023.  On that date, investigators executed search warrants at locations in Connecticut, Kansas, and California.  A search of Perez’s residence and vehicle revealed nine firearms; more than 200 rounds of ammunition; distribution quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl/heroin; items used to process and package narcotics for street sale; and more than $7,000 in cash.  In addition, a search of Diaz’s residence revealed approximately 90 rounds of ammunition, and a search of a package that was shipped to Diaz and seized from the mail stream revealed an additional three firearms.

    The jury found Perez guilty of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  On March 19, 2025, Perez pleaded guilty to the other nine counts of the indictment in which he was charged, including one count of firearms trafficking conspiracy, three counts of firearms trafficking, two counts of mailing nonmailable firearms, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.

    At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Perez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life.

    Perez has been detained since his arrest.

    Diaz pleaded guilty and, on February 4, 2025, was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment.  Three others charged as a result of this investigation also pleaded guilty and await sentencing.

    This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Connecticut State Police; and the Waterbury, Meriden, Hartford, Manchester, East Hartford, West Hartford, and Chino (Calif.) Police Departments.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Christopher J. Lembo through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Portland Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Using Instagram to Sexually Exploit Children Online

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison Thursday for using Instagram, a social media platform, to persuade children to produce and send him sexually explicit images of themselves.

    Solomon Dean Cook, 21, was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison and ten years’ supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $103,000 in restitution to his victims.

    According to court documents, in January 2022, the parent of a victim in Portland called the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) to report that an Instagram user had persuaded their child to produce and share a sexually explicit photo. The user threatened to distribute the image if the child did not continue producing and sending more images. During follow-up interviews with investigators, the victim identified a second child in Portland that Cook victimized.

    Federal agents traced two Instagram accounts to Cook and learned that he posed as a “sugar daddy” online by offering large amounts of money to entice children into sending him sexually explicit photos. Once the victims agreed, Cook’s demands for sexually explicit materials escalated and he threatened to release images of the victims if they did not comply with his demands. Investigators learned that between November 2021 and May 2022, Cook exploited three minor victims in this manner. 

    On May 11, 2022, Cook was arrested after agents executed a federal search warrant on his residence. During the search, Cook confessed to enticing the reporting victim into producing a sexually explicit image and to exploiting additional victims in the same manner. Investigators also searched Cook’s phone and found sexually explicit images of five minor victims and several adult victims.

    On June 7, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Cook with sexual exploitation of children, attempted sexual exploitation of children, and receiving and possessing child pornography.

    On September 4, 2024, Cook pleaded guilty to three counts of enticing a minor online and one count of possessing child pornography.

    This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF). It is being prosecuted by Mira Chernick, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

    The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation.

    Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Missouri Man Admits Child Pornography Offense

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A man from O’Fallon, Missouri, on Friday admitted possessing child sexual abuse material on multiple electronic devices and in a cloud account.

    Davie John Metzger, 55, of O’Fallon, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to one count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted possessing 369 images of child sexual abuse material on a flash drive, 24 images on a hard drive, 211 in an online cloud storage account and 343 on a cell phone. Metzger’s conduct had triggered three CyberTipline reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The June 30, 2023, tip was triggered when he uploaded an image depicting a girl between the ages of 3 and 7. A subsequent court-approved search of his online account revealed photos that he’d surreptitiously taken of women and girls in public places.

    Metzger is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8. The crime carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years and a maximum of 20 years.

    The FBI and the St. Charles County Cybercrime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Economic and Social Council Fills Vacancies in 15 Subsidiary Bodies

    Source: United Nations 4

    The Economic and Social Council convened today to conduct elections, nominations, confirmations, and appointments to fill vacancies in 15 of its subsidiary bodies. 

    The Council, which plays a vital role in advancing the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, oversees a complex ecosystem of subsidiary entities, comprising regional and functional commissions, standing committees, and expert and ad hoc bodies. 

    For instance, its Statistical Commission, established in 1946, is responsible for the development of international statistics concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level.  The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, formed in 2000, advises the Council on Indigenous peoples’ rights and provides recommendations to Member States on issues affecting indigenous communities. And the Commission on Narcotic Drugs formulates international drug policies and oversees the implementation of global drug control treaties. 

    Statistical Commission

    The Council by secret ballot today elected Romania to the Statistical Commission for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2029.  In a second round of balloting, the Russian Federation was elected for the same four-year term. 

    Since the number of candidates from the African States, the Asia-Pacific States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States was equal to the number of vacancies, the Council also elected Austria, Benin, Brazil, Burundi, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Finland, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru and Uzbekistan by acclamation for the same four-year term. 

    Commission on Population and Development

    To the Commission on Population and Development, the Council elected Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Ireland, Ghana, Malaysia, Mongolia, Norway, Russian Federation, Senegal, United Kingdom and the United Republic of Tanzania by acclamation for a four-year term of office beginning at the first meeting of the Commission’s sixtieth session in 2026 and expiring at the close of its sixty-third session in 2030. 

    The Council also elected Albania, by acclamation, to the Commission for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring at the close of the Commission’s fifty-ninth session in 2026.  Japan and the Philippines were elected, by acclamation, for a four-year term beginning at the first meeting of the fifty-ninth session and expiring at the close of the sixty-second session in 2029.

    Commission on the Status of Women

    To the Commission on the Status of Women, the Council elected Cabo Verde, China, Gabon, Japan, Maldives, Mongolia, Morocco, Qatar, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe, by acclamation, for a four-year term of office beginning at the first meeting of the Commission’s seventy-first session in 2026 and expiring at the close of its seventy-fourth session in 2030.

    Commission on Narcotic Drugs

    To the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Council elected from the Asia-Pacific States — by secret ballot — Pakistan, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates and Kyrgyzstan for a four-year term beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2029.  From the Eastern European States, it elected Slovenia, Lithuania and Ukraine, and from the Western European and Other States, it elected Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and, in a second round of balloting, France, for the same four-year term beginning on 1 January 2026. 

    Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

    From the African States and the Latin American and Caribbean States, the Council elected Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Honduras, Mauritania and Trinidad and Tobago, by acclamation, to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for a four-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

    To the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Council elected by secret ballot from the Eastern European States Valts Ernštreits of Latvia and Suleiman Mamutov of Ukraine for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    Since the number of candidates from the African States, the Asia-Pacific States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States was equal to or less than the number of vacancies, the Council elected Brenda Gunn of Canada, Nan Li of China, Rodrigo Paillalef Monnard of Chile, Diego A. Tituaña Matango of Ecuador and Anne-Chantal Nama of Cameroon, by acclamation, for the same three-year term of office. 

    Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund

    Since the number of candidates from the Asia-Pacific States, the Eastern European States, the Latin American and Caribbean States and the Western European and other States was equal to or less than the number of vacancies, the Council elected Antigua and Barbuda, China, Georgia, Guatemala, Iceland, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Norway, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, by acclamation, to the Executive Board of the United Nations Children’s Fund for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    The Council also elected by acclamation Canada, Türkiye and Liechtenstein to complete the unexpired term of office of Australia, France and Portugal, respectively, beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2027.  Australia, France and Portugal resigned from their seats on the Executive Board effective 31 December 2025.  

    Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Population Fund/United Nations Office for Project Services

    Next, the Council elected Armenia, Bolivia, China, Cuba, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Nepal, Norway, Rwanda and the United States, by acclamation, to the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Population Fund/United Nations Office for Project Services for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    The Council also elected by acclamation Monaco, New Zealand and Türkiye to complete the unexpired term of office of Austria, Luxembourg and Ireland, respectively, beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2026.  Switzerland was elected to complete the unexpired term of office of Belgium, beginning on 1 January 2026 and expiring on 31 December 2027.  Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg and Ireland resigned from their seats on 31 December 2025.

    Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

    The Council next elected Burkina Faso, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Japan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda and Senegal by acclamation to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026. 

    Executive Board of the World Food Programme

    The Council also elected Cuba, Gabon and Kenya by acclamation to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.

    Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

    The Council by secret ballot elected Ukraine to the Programme Coordinating Board of the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 2026.  Further, it elected Kenya, by acclamation, to the Programme Coordinating Board for the same term.

    The Council then elected by acclamation the Philippines to complete the unexpired term of office of Japan, beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2027.

    Committee for Programme and Coordination

    The Council next nominated China, Cuba, Egypt, Nigeria, Republic of Korea and Senegal, for election by the General Assembly to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 2026. 

    Commission for Social Development 

    To the Commission for Social Development, the Council elected Switzerland, by acclamation, for a term beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring at the close of the Commission’s sixty-seventh session in 2029. 

    Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting

    Next, the Council elected Belarus, Colombia, India and Kyrgyzstan, by acclamation, to the Intergovernmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and Reporting, each for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2027.  Greece was elected, by acclamation, to the same body for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2026.

    Committee for the United Nations Population Award

    Finally, the Council elected Cyprus, by acclamation, to the Committee for the United Nations Population Award for a term of office beginning on 4 April 2025 and expiring on 31 December 2027.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 16 charged in sweeping Houston-based multimillion-dollar illegal gambling, money laundering conspiracy

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    HOUSTON – Several Houston-area residents were taken into custody April 2 on various charges including conspiracy, operating illegal game rooms, bribery, and money laundering following one of the largest law enforcement operations in East Texas history.

    The operation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation; the Houston Police Department; FBI; High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program; Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct One; Harris County District Attorney’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Drug Enforcement Administration.

    In addition to those indicted in the scheme, authorities also arrested 31 illegal aliens on various immigration and firearms charges. One of those included an illegal alien who allegedly assaulted a law enforcement officer.

    The indictment, returned March 26 and unsealed upon the arrests, alleges Nizar Ali, 61, of Richmond, and others allegedly conspired to own, operate or assist in the operation of illegal game rooms. All also conspired to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the proceeds of the illegal gambling business, which totaled more than $22 million, according to the charges.

    More than 700 law enforcement officers from 18 agencies served a total of 45 search and 40 seizure warrants at locations throughout Houston and the surrounding area. The locations included 30 illegal game rooms with names such as El Portal and Yellow Building.

    During the operation, authorities recovered more than $11 million in seized cash and bank accounts, as well as $5 million in property and vehicles, 2,000 slot machines, 100 Rolex watches and eight firearms. Law enforcement also seized approximately $6.5 million from bank accounts and other financial institutions pursuant to the court-issued warrants.

    In addition to Ali, others taken into custody include Naeem Ali, 33, and Amer Khan, 68, both of Richmond; Ishan Dhuka, 33, and Sahil Karovalia, 32, both of Rosenberg; Sarfarez Maredia, 38, and Shoaib Maredia, 40, both of Sugar Land; Yolanda Figueroa, 40, of Pasadena; Viviana Alvarado, 45, of LaPorte; and Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, 46, Precela Solis, 27, Maria Delarosa, 53, Claudia Calderon, 37, and Lucia Hernandez, 34, all of Houston.

    Two others – Sayed Ali, 59, of Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, of Houston – are considered fugitives and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests.

    All are charged with conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business and interstate travel in aid of racketeering which each carry possible prison terms of five years as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering which has a maximum 20-year possible prison term. Ali is also charged with 32 counts of federal program bribery for allegedly paying more than $500,000 to an undercover officer in an attempt to protect the illicit game rooms from law enforcement intervention. If convicted, he faces up to 10 more years in prison on each count. With the exception of the money laundering charge, which has the possibility of a $500,000 maximum fine or twice the value of the property involved, the remaining counts carry a maximum $250,000 potential fine.

    Other agencies who provided support to the operation included U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Harris and Montgomery Counties’ sheriff offices, the Houston Fire Department, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Baytown and Pasadena police departments.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Mark McIntyre, John Marck and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Fyffe and Tyler Foster are handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.

    An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Asphalt Contractor to Pay Nearly $1.3 Million to Settle Claims that it Falsified Quality Test Results

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MINNEAPOLIS – Anderson Brothers Construction Company of Brainerd LLC, a construction and paving company located in Brainerd, Minnesota, has agreed to pay $1,295,610 to resolve allegations it violated the False Claims Act and the Minnesota False Claims Act from 2017 through 2022 by routinely and knowingly falsifying test results to make its paving material appear to be higher quality than it was and submitting those falsified results to the government in seeking payments for road paving in Minnesota.  

    The United States and the State of Minnesota alleged that, as a condition of payment for federally funded road paving contracts, Anderson Brothers was required to perform certain quality tests of its paving material and submit the results to the government.  The United States and the State of Minnesota further alleged that Anderson Brothers falsified the results and submitted them to the government to receive financial incentives for superior quality paving material and avoid deductions for lower-quality material.  As a result of those false test results, the United States and the State of Minnesota alleged that the government funded payments to Anderson Brothers for unearned incentives and Anderson Brothers avoided financial deductions that would have occurred had Anderson Brothers submitted truthful test results. Of the $1,295,610 civil settlement, the United States will receive $660,761 and the State of Minnesota will receive $634,849.

    “Protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse is one of our top priorities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “The submission of false claims for federally funded government contracts will not be tolerated. This settlement should serve as proof that we will actively investigate this conduct whenever it occurs and will hold to account any company that fails to bill accurately for the products provided.”

    “Today’s settlement reinforces the fact that companies doing business with the government must fully comply with federal regulations and contractual obligations,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Licari, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region. “When fraudulent conduct like this undermines the integrity of highway paving putting the safety of the travelling public at risk, it’s our job, together with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, to put an end to it.”

    The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Kacie Dixon, a former Bituminous Mix Technician at Anderson Brothers.  Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.  The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Dixon v. Anderson Brothers Construction Company of Brainerd, LLC., Civil Action No. 22-cv-02078 (D. Minn.).  

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a joint effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota with assistance from the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The U.S. Government also received significant assistance in this matter from the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

    The matter was investigated by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Danielle Rowan and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Fuller and Adam Hoskins for the District of Minnesota.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Men Sentenced for Their Roles in a Deadly Human Smuggling Operation in Santa Teresa

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – Three men involved in a coordinated human smuggling operation in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, have been sentenced after their actions led to a fatal vehicle collision that claimed the lives of two undocumented non-citizens.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    According to court records, on June 23, 2023, Jose Hermosillo-Camarillo, 22, of Albuquerque, drove a vehicle carrying four undocumented non-citizens at high speeds through Santa Teresa, New Mexico, with Jesus Manuel Soto, 20, a Mexican national, as a passenger in the same vehicle. Despite no law enforcement engaging in a high-speed pursuit, Hermosillo-Camarillo drove recklessly, running two red lights and attempting an illegal U-turn at an intersection. This resulted in his vehicle being struck by a semi-truck traveling at 60 mph, causing severe injuries to the occupants and leading to the deaths of two—one at the scene and another later at the hospital. U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to render aid and secure the area until New Mexico State Police arrived and took command.

    Sergio Raul Diaz, 20, also of Albuquerque, drove a second vehicle in tandem with Hermosillo-Camarillo’s car. After the collision, Diaz fled into Texas at high speeds, running a red light and evading capture until his vehicle was immobilized by a tire deflation device. Four undocumented non-citizens from Diaz’s vehicle attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol. Troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Diaz at the scene.

    Survivors revealed that smugglers charged approximately $1,500 per person for transportation. They also identified Soto as the foot guide that led them across the U.S.-Mexico border to meet Hermosillo-Camarillo and Diaz.

    Court records revealed that Hermosillo-Camarillo had been arrested previously for similar offenses in New Mexico and Arizona but had not been charged.

    Hermosillo-Camarillo, Soto, and Diaz each pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport an illegal alien resulting in death. Hermosillo-Camarillo was sentenced to 144 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Soto received an 18-month prison sentence and will face deportation proceedings upon his release. Diaz was sentenced to 42 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

    Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police, Hatch Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and New Mexico Department of Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy M. Castellano prosecuted the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN rights office calls for end to Israel’s ‘illegal presence’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

    Source: United Nations 2

    Peace and Security

    Amid reports of escalating settler violence in the West Bank, the UN rights office, OHCHR, briefed the Palestinian rights committee at UN Headquarters in New York, which also featured a screening of the Oscar winning documentary No Other Land.

    The Palestinian co-director of the documentary, Basel Adra, delivered remarks to the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Ambassador Riyad Mansour of the Observer State of Palestine and Israeli Human Rights lawyer Netta Amar Schiff – who joined via videolink – also took part.

    No Other Land, directed by Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers, sheds light on the lived reality of Palestinians under occupation in Masafer Yatta, a collection of 19 hamlets, in the occupied West Bank.

    ‘The same reality’

    “I wanted the world to know that we exist in this land…But even after winning the Oscar we went back to the same reality,” said Mr. Adra at the beginning of his remarks.

    UN Photo/Loey Felipe

    James Turpin, Chief of Prevention and Sustaining Peace Section, UN Human Rights, speaks during the meeting of the Committee on Exercise of Inalienable Rights of Palestinian People.

    Addressing the overall human rights situation, James Turpin, who heads the Prevention and Sustaining Peace Section at OHCHR, said that for 15 years his office “has monitored, recorded and warned about the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the widespread violations resulting from Israel’s 57-year military occupation.”

    “The documentary film, No Other Land, brings to life, in a compelling and accessible way, what the UN has documented in countless reports,” added Mr. Turpin.

    As of 2022, approximately 20 per cent of the West Bank had been designated as “firing zones” by Israeli authorities – or military areas closed to civilians – affecting over 5,000 Palestinians from 38 communities.

    Settlement expansion continues

    “There are now over 737,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank” and “steps are regularly taken to accelerate construction of additional housing units in new or existing Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem”, Mr. Turpin said.

    Israel’s policies and practices in the OPT “undermines the territorial integrity essential to the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and violates the prohibition against acquiring territory by force,” he added.

    In October 2023, in Masafer Yatta, Basel Adra’s cousin was shot in the chest by an Israeli settler. The scene unfolded in front of an Israeli soldier, Mr. Adra told the committee.

    “Israel systematically fails to prevent or punish settler attacks, with a reported policy of police non-enforcement in relation to settler violence, leaving Palestinians bereft of any hope of obtaining justice and accountability,” said Mr. Turpin.

    Livelihoods lost

    The OHCHR official added that settler violence “combined with arbitrary movement restrictions devastates Palestinian livelihoods,” highlighting also the use of unnecessary and disproportionate force against Palestinians, movement restrictions, and mass displacement.

    “Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT must end, as confirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)” said Mr. Turpin, referring to the July 2024 Advisory opinion from the ICJ.

    “Almost every day there are settler attacks against Masafer Yatta,” added Basel Adra, co-director of No Other Land. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Stopping IRS Overreach in Its Tracks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

    As we near the final days of tax season, customer service at the IRS is on the minds of many Americans. Most Americans work hard and pay their taxes in good faith, yet in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023, 32 percent of customers said they were dissatisfied with their experience with the agency’s Independent Office of Appeals. Sadly, these rates have trended in the wrong direction since Democrats poured $80 billion into the IRS to hire 87,000 new agents in 2022. In FY21 just 19 percent of taxpayers reported dissatisfaction with the IRS.

    I continue to champion efforts to hold the IRS accountable and focus on improving customer service. The most recent government funding legislation I supported reduced this funding by another $20.2 billion. In fact, I sponsored legislation previously passed by the House to reclaim the entire $80 billion. Rather than hiring agents to supersize “enforcement” and audits, the IRS should be doing everything possible to maximize efficiency and excellent service.

    In March, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) released a report detailing how the IRS inappropriately diverted $4.6 million to maintain outdated technology systems. These funds had been designated for systems modernization and were legally prohibited from being redirected to legacy systems.

    Updates to IRS technology are needed to better protect Americans’ personal data and serve taxpayers. The misuse of tax dollars to maintain business as usual was a hallmark of the Biden administration’s misaligned priorities. The past administration pursued unauthorized tax prep services and schemes to audit more Americans across the income spectrum, including the 1099-K Babysitter Tax and other new ways to audit tips received by service workers.

    Another March TIGTA report found the IRS underreported the cost of its unauthorized pilot program to compete with existing free tax preparation providers. Through this program, the Biden administration sought to increase the IRS’s intrusion into the private finances of Americans to an unprecedented degree. This in-house tax preparation program has not been authorized by Congress, and having the tax enforcement and collection agency calculating how much a given taxpayer owes raises serious conflict of interest concerns.

    Too often, the IRS and the taxpaying process are clouded by an air of suspicion. The last thing American taxpayers need is an IRS calculating tax liability with no incentive to ensure they are not accidentally overpaying, while simultaneously threatening to audit them. I am the lead sponsor of a bill to eliminate this so-called Direct File program.

    We should be crafting policy which modernizes systems and improves customer service at the IRS, not creating costly redundancies which put the IRS into the role of both tax preparer and tax auditor. The IRS Free File program is an existing option for taxpayers who wish to file their taxes for free. More than 70 percent of American tax filers qualify to use Free File. I encourage you to visit irs.gov/FreeFile to confirm your eligibility and learn more.

    Through Free File, which is authorized by Congress, Americans can file their federal taxes through private third parties without cost to themselves, virtually no cost to the federal government, and minimal administrative burden to the IRS.

    Law-abiding middle-class taxpayers and small businesses should not live in fear of a burdensome, unnecessary audit from an overreaching IRS. Free File fills a need for taxpayers in an efficient, cost-effective way—just the sort of thing we should be doing more of in Washington.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Little league coach sentenced to 10 years for attempting to meet a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    OCALA, Fla. – A Florida little league baseball coach has been sentenced April 1 to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  

    Joseph Rocco Quaranta, 48, of Dunnellon, pleaded guilty on Nov. 19, 2024.

    “The sentencing of this former little league baseball coach serves as a reminder that predatory action against children will not be tolerated, and we will use every resource at our disposal to ensure that justice is served,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI, alongside our partners at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, is unwavering in its commitment to protect our children from predators who seek to exploit them.”   

    According to court documents, on July 25, 2024, an undercover detective with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Quaranta contacted the detective’s account and, after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Quaranta then arranged to meet the child at a predetermined location in Marion County to engage in sexual activity. When Quaranta arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested. After his arrest, Quaranta admitted to deputies that he had been volunteering as a local little league baseball coach.

    This case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations Orlando, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The Antitrust Division Hosts a Big-Tech Censorship Forum

    Source: United States Department of Justice (video statements)

    The Antitrust Division hosted a discussion on the implications of Big-Tech censorship focusing on the impact of deplatforming on public discourse and how monopolization contributes to the ability of big tech companies to censor Americans.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPPgJ-xkjWo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson to lead prosecution of illegal immigrant charged with hit-and-run of USC studentRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that his office will prosecute Rosali Fernandez Cruz, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador charged in the hit-and-run that led to the death of 21-year-old University of South Carolina student Nathanial “Nate” Baker, a native of Virginia.

    “This is a tragic situation, and our hearts go out to the family of Nate Baker, who had a bright future ahead of him,” said Attorney General Wilson. “His family sent him from Virginia to South Carolina to attend his parents’ alma mater and pursue his education. The individual charged in this case is an illegal immigrant ordered to be deported over seven years ago.”  

    Baker, a junior business major and active leader in the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, was riding his motorcycle Tuesday when he collided with the suspect at the intersection of Blossom and Assembly Streets. Cruz, driving a pickup truck, fled the scene and was arrested shortly after by the Columbia Police Department. He now faces multiple charges, including: 

    • Hit and run resulting in death
    • Failure to render aid
    • Failure to yield the right of way
    • Driving without a license

    Authorities have confirmed Cruz is in the country illegally and has had an order for removal since 2018. Attorney General Wilson’s office is coordinating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure there are no loopholes or escapes from justice. 

    “Illegal immigration is one of the top priorities for the state of South Carolina,” said Attorney General Wilson. “As the state’s top prosecutor, I will always make it a priority to enforce the law. Our office will prosecute this case directly. Law and order, border security, and the safety of South Carolina and the nation’s families are of utmost importance to me and my office. The people of this state expect action, and this office will ensure the rule of law is respected and enforced.”  

    After Cruz’s arrest, an active Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer was placed on him. This should result in his deportation back to El Salvador once the criminal process is completed.  

    You can find the letter sent to Solicitor Byron Gipson here. 

    Attorney General Wilson stresses all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty under the law.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Council Concludes Fifty-Eighth Regular Session after Adopting 32 Resolutions

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Extends 16 Country Specific and Thematic Mandates and Establishes an Intergovernmental Working Group to Draft a Legally Binding Instrument on the Human Rights of Older Persons

     

    Invites General Assembly to Consider Establishing a Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes Committed by All Parties in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel since 2014

     

    The Human Rights Council today concluded its fifty-eighth regular session after adopting 32 resolutions.  In these texts, among other things, the Council voted to extend 16 country specific and thematic mandates, and to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group to draft an international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons.

    In a resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice, the Council invited the General Assembly to consider establishing an ongoing international, impartial and independent mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed by all parties in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel since 2014.  The Council also adopted resolutions on human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan. 

    The Council extended 13 country mandates during the session.  It decided to extend, for a period of one year, the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan under agenda item two.  It also extended, for a period of one year, the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus and the Group of Independent Experts on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar; the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran; the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine; and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic under agenda item four.

    Under agenda item 10, the Council extended for a period of one year the mandates of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali; and the independent human rights expert appointed by the High Commissioner and tasked with undertaking the monitoring of the human rights situation in Haiti.  It also extended, for a period of two years, the mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua; and the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner, including its field-based structure in Seoul, to allow the implementation of relevant recommendations made by the group of independent experts on accountability for human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in its report, under agenda item four.

    The Council decided to extend, for a period of three years, the mandates of the

    Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.

    The Council requested its Advisory Committee to prepare, in close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, an in-depth study review on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measure on the right to health of individuals in vulnerable situations.  It also requested its Advisory Committee to draft a set of recommended guidelines for applying the existing human rights framework to the conception, design, development, testing, use and deployment of neurotechnologies.

    Further resolutions adopted concerned cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage; the negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights; human rights, democracy and the rule of law; the question of the realisation in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights; the promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity; the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights; women, diplomacy and human rights; the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: ocean and human rights; the impact of anti-personnel mines on the full enjoyment of all human rights; human rights defenders and new and emerging technologies; combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief; and technical assistance and capacity-building for South Sudan.

    The Council appointed three members of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Member from Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia, Antonina Gorbunova (Russian Federation); Member from Central and South America, and the Caribbean, Anexa Brendalee Alfred Cunningham (Nicaragua); and member from the Pacific, Valmaine Toki (New Zealand).

    The Council also adopted ad referendum the draft report of the fifth-eighth session.

    Jürg Lauber, President of the Human Rights Council, said the Council had reviewed and adopted the results of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 countries; adopted 32 resolutions; and appointed three mandate holders of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.  He expressed sincere gratitude to the Bureau of the Council, the Secretariat, and the Member States, for their support and cooperation during the session.

    The fifty-ninth regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to be held from 16 June to 11 July 2025.

    Action on Resolutions

    Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Two on the Annual Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.6) on Advancing human rights in South Sudan, adopted by a vote of 24 in favour, 6 against and 17 abstentions, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, composed of three members, for a further period of one year; requests the Commission to present a comprehensive report on the situation of human rights in South Sudan to the Council at its sixty-first session, to be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue, and that the report and an easy-to-read version of it be made available on the website of the Office of the High Commissioner in an accessible format and also requests the Commission to present its latest report, in combination with an oral update on its work, to the General Assembly at its eightieth session, followed by an interactive dialogue. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.30/Rev.1) on the Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice, adopted by a vote of 27 in favour, 4 against and 16 abstentions (as orally revised), the Council reiterates its request to the Commission of Inquiry to report on both the direct and the indirect transfer or sale of arms, munitions, parts, components and dual-use items to Israel, the occupying Power, and requests, instead, that the report be submitted to the Council at its sixty-first session; invites the General Assembly to consider establishing an ongoing international, impartial and independent mechanism to assist in the investigation and prosecution of persons responsible for the most serious crimes under international law committed by all parties in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel since 2014, to closely cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of violations of international law and violations and abuses of human rights, and to prepare case files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in accordance with international legal standards, in national, regional and international courts or tribunals that have or may in the future have jurisdiction over these crimes, in accordance with international law; and requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of the present resolution to the Human Rights Council at its sixty-first session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue.

    Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Three on the Promotion and Protection of All Human Rights, Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, including the Right to Development.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.1) on the Negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, adopted by a vote of 28 in favour, 16 against and 3 abstentions, the Council requests the Advisory Committee of the Council to prepare, in close cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, an in-depth study review on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measure on the right to health of individuals in vulnerable situations, and to present its comprehensive report and findings to the Council at its sixty-fourth session; requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to organise a biennial panel discussion, to be held at the sixtieth session of the Council, on the impact of unilateral coercive measures and overcompliance on the right to food and food security, and requests the Special Rapporteur to act as rapporteur of the panel discussion and to prepare a report thereon, and to submit and present the report to the Council at its sixty-first session. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.4/Rev.1) on Cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the High Commissioner to convene, before the sixty-fourth session of the Council, a one-day workshop to review and promote the tools for the dissemination of good practices and possible methods of, as well as challenges encountered in, implementing an approach to digital heritage that promotes universal respect for cultural rights by all, and to make the workshop accessible to persons with disabilities; also requests the High Commissioner to submit a report thereon to the Council at its sixty-sixth session; and decides to remain seized of the matter.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.5) on Freedom of religion or belief, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief for a further period of three years; requests the Special Rapporteur to report annually to the Council and to the General Assembly in accordance with their respective programmes of work; and decides to remain seized of this question under the same agenda item and to continue its consideration of measures to implement the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.9) on Neurotechnology and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council requests its Advisory Committee to draft a set of recommended guidelines for applying the existing human rights framework to the conception, design, development, testing, use and deployment of neurotechnologies and to present it to the Council at its sixty-fourth session.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.16) on the Negative impact of the non-repatriation of funds of illicit origin to the countries of origin on the enjoyment of human rights, and the importance of improving international cooperation, adopted by a vote of 29 in favour, 15 against and 3 abstentions, the Council requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to organise, prior to the sixty-second session of the Council, a one-day intersessional expert meeting, fully accessible to persons with disabilities, on strengthening international cooperation and shared responsibilities in facilitating the repatriation of illicit funds to advance human rights; requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to organise, before the sixty-third session of the Council, a regional expert meeting in Africa on ways to support governments’ efforts in repatriating funds of illicit origin; and also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a substantive report on enhancing international cooperation and national efforts to facilitate the repatriation of illicit funds and ensure the effective use of repatriated funds for sustainable development and realisation of economic, social and cultural rights, and to present the report to the Council at its sixty-fourth session.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.17/Rev.1) on Human rights, democracy and the rule of law, adopted without a vote, the Council decides that the theme of the sixth session of the Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, to be held in 2026, will be “Education for civic participation: empowering future generations, fostering knowledge and critical thinking”; and decides that participation in the sixth session of the Forum will be in accordance with the modalities set out by the Council in its resolutions 28/14, 34/41, 40/9, 46/4 and 52/22.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.7) on the Question of the realisation in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to convene, at its sixty-first session, a panel discussion, accessible to persons with disabilities and open to the participation of States and other relevant stakeholders, on promising practices and measures to mobilise public resources to finance sustainable development in a manner consistent with States’ economic, social and cultural rights obligations; and requests the Secretary-General to prepare and submit to the Council, at its sixty-fourth session, a report, in formats accessible to persons with disabilities, on the question of the realisation in all countries of economic, social and cultural rights under agenda item 3.

    Before the resolution was adopted, the Council rejected amendment L.33 by a vote of 9 in favour, 24 against and 13 abstentions.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.12) on the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food for a period of three years; requests the Special Rapporteur to provide advice and guidance to States and all relevant stakeholders on shaping food systems governance in line with international human rights law; and requests the Special Rapporteur to report annually on the implementation of the mandate to the Council and the General Assembly in accordance with their programmes of work. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.13) on the Promotion of the enjoyment of the cultural rights of everyone and respect for cultural diversity, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to work with relevant stakeholders towards the comprehensive promotion and protection of cultural rights, and to report regularly to the Council and the General Assembly, in accordance with their respective programmes of work. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.14) on the Effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, adopted by a vote of 29 in favour, 12 against and 6 abstentions, the Council requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to provide global analytical and policy strategies in the context of reforms of the international financial architecture; and requests the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights, to continue to report regularly to the Council and the General Assembly in accordance with their programmes of work.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.24/Rev.1) on the Open-ended intergovernmental working group for the elaboration of a legally binding instrument on the promotion and protection of the human rights of older persons, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group with the mandate of elaborating and submitting to the Council a draft international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons with the objective of promoting, protecting and ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by older persons; also decides that the open-ended intergovernmental working group will meet for two five-day sessions each year in Geneva in a hybrid format, should the General Assembly agree to reintroduce such a format, and that it will be webcast, and that the organisational session should be held before the end of 2025 and no later than the start of the sixty-first session of the Human Rights Council, for three working days; and requests the open-ended intergovernmental working group to submit a report on progress made to the Council for its consideration at its sixty-third session and to make the report available in an easy-to-read accessible format.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.29) on the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism for a period of three years, with the same terms as provided for by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 49/10.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.15) on Women, diplomacy and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to commemorate the International Day of Women in Diplomacy during one panel at the annual full-day discussion on the human rights of women, to be held during the fifty-ninth, the sixty-second and the sixty-fifth sessions of the Council, including with discussions on the elimination of discrimination and structural barriers that hinder women’s participation and representation in decision-making; and invites all States, organizations of the United Nations system and civil society to participate in this celebration.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.26/Rev.1) on the Human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: ocean and human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council calls upon States to adopt and implement strong laws ensuring, among other things, the rights to participation, to access to information and to justice, including to an effective remedy, in environmental matters; and calls upon all States to conserve, protect and restore healthy ecosystems and biodiversity and to ensure their sustainable management and use by applying a human rights-based approach that emphasizes participation, inclusion, transparency and accountability in the management of natural resources.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.21) on the Impact of anti-personnel mines on the full enjoyment of all human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council calls upon all States and other relevant stakeholders to cooperate effectively to address the impact of anti-personnel mines on the protection and promotion of all human rights; and requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a report, in consultation with States and other relevant stakeholders, on the impact of antipersonnel mines on the enjoyment of all human rights, with particular emphasis on economic, social and cultural rights, and to present the report to the Council at its sixty-second session, followed by an interactive dialogue.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.27/Rev.1) on Human rights defenders and new and emerging technologies: protecting human rights defenders, including women human rights defenders, in the digital age, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council requests the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to convene three regional workshops, including through hybrid modalities, to assess risks created by digital technologies to human rights defenders and best practices to respond to these concerns in different geographical areas, bearing in mind current and emerging business models and gender, geographic and other digital divides and sensitivities, with participation from civil society, human rights defenders and the private sector; and also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to prepare a report containing a summary of those consultations, which could include recommendations for due diligence and improved responses to risks created by digital technologies to human rights defenders, including those exposed to discrimination and those working in situations of armed conflict, and to present it to the Council at its sixty-third session.

    Before the resolution was adopted, the Council rejected amendment L.35 by a vote of 4 in favour, 26 against and 15 abstentions; L.36 by a vote of 10 in favour, 23 against and 14 abstentions; and L.37 by a vote of 7 in favour, 24 against and 15 abstentions.

    Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Four on Human Rights Situations that Require the Council’s Attention 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.2) on the Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to renew, for a period of two years, the capacity of the Office of the High Commissioner, including its field-based structure in Seoul, to allow the implementation of relevant recommendations made by the group of independent experts on accountability for human rights violations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in its report; requests the High Commissioner to provide an oral update on the progress made in this regard to the Council at its sixty-first session and to submit a full report on the implementation of the recommendations to the Council at its sixty-fourth session; decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in accordance with Council resolution 37/28, for a period of one year; and requests the Office of the High Commissioner to continue to organise a series of consultations and outreach activities with victims, affected communities and other relevant stakeholders. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.3) on the Promotion and protection of human rights in Nicaragua, adopted by a vote of 29 in favour, 4 against and 14 abstentions, the Council decides to renew, for a period of two years, the mandate of the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua as established in its resolution 49/3; requests the Group to submit a comprehensive report to the Council at its sixty-first and sixty-fourth sessions, during an interactive dialogue, and to present an oral update to the Council at its sixtieth and sixty-third sessions; also requests the Group to present its most recent report, in combination with an oral update on its work, to the General Assembly at its eightieth and eighty-first sessions, followed by an interactive dialogue; and requests the High Commissioner to strengthen monitoring and engagement, including by preparing reports that are comprehensive, gender-responsive and take into account race and ethnic origin on the situation of human rights in Nicaragua, and to present them to the Council at its sixtieth and sixty-third sessions, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to present an oral update to the Council at its fifty-ninth and sixty-second sessions.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.10) on the Situation of human rights in Belarus, adopted by a vote of 25 in favour, 5 against and 17 abstentions, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus for a further period of one year, effective from the end of its fifty-ninth session, and requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to monitor developments and to make recommendations on ways to strengthen respect for and protection and fulfilment of human rights in Belarus, and to submit a report on the situation of human rights in Belarus to the Council at its sixty-second session and to the General Assembly at its eighty-first session, including in an easy-to-read version and in an accessible format; also decides to extend the mandate of the Group of Independent Experts on the Situation of Human Rights in Belarus for a further period of one year; and requests the Group of Independent Experts to give an oral update to the Council at its sixtieth session and to present a comprehensive report at its sixty-first session, including in an easy-to-read version and in an accessible format, both to be followed by an interactive dialogue. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.11/Rev.1) on the Situation of human rights in Myanmar, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council calls for the timely designation of a resident coordinator of United Nations local agencies in Myanmar on a permanent basis; decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar for a further period of one year; requests the Special Rapporteur to present, during an enhanced interactive dialogue, an oral update to the Council at its fifty-ninth session and to submit a report to the Third Committee of the General Assembly at its eightieth session and to the Council at its sixty-first session, and also requests the Special Rapporteur to continue to monitor the situation of human rights in Myanmar; requests the High Commissioner to submit to the Council, at its sixty-second session, a comprehensive report on the overall situation of human rights in Myanmar; and reiterates the need to establish a country office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Myanmar and to issue a standing invitation to all special procedures of the Council. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.20/Rev.1) on the Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, adopted by a vote of 24 in favour, 8 against and 15 abstentions, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran for a further period of one year in order to continue to monitor the ongoing situation of human rights, and requests the Special Rapporteur to submit a report to the Council at its sixty-first session and to the General Assembly at its eightieth session; also decides that the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran should continue for one year to thoroughly and independently monitor and investigate allegations of recent and ongoing serious human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran; and requests the Fact-Finding Mission to present a report to the Council at its sixty-first session during a joint interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, and to present an oral update, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, on the implementation of the mandate to the General Assembly at its eightieth session. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.22) on the Situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression, adopted by a vote of 25 in favour, 4 against and 18 abstentions, the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, defined by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 49/1, for a further period of one year, complementing, consolidating and building upon the work of the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, in close coordination with the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and requests the Commission of Inquiry to give an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its sixtieth session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, to submit a comprehensive report to the Council at its sixty-first session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its eightieth session, also to be followed by an interactive dialogue.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.25) on the Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic, adopted without a vote (as orally revised), the Council decides to extend the mandate of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic for a period of one year; requests the Office of the High Commissioner to strengthen the resources of the Commission of Inquiry in order for it to completely fulfil its mandate within the Syrian Arab Republic, in particular with regard to security and logistical support and victim protection expertise, welcomes the broad access granted by the interim authorities to the Commission, and encourages the interim authorities to grant the Commission necessary access throughout the Syrian Arab Republic and to cooperate closely with the Commission; requests the Commission of Inquiry to present an oral update to the Human Rights Council at both its fifty-ninth and sixtieth sessions, to be followed by an updated report during an interactive dialogue at the sixty-first session of the Council; and reaffirms its decision to transmit the report and oral updates of the Commission of Inquiry to relevant bodies of the United Nations. 

    Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Seven on the Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Other Occupied Arab Territories

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.19) on Human rights in the occupied Syrian Golan, adopted by a vote of 27 in favour, 6 against and 14 abstentions, the Council demands that Israel stop its repressive measures against the Syrian citizens in the occupied Syrian Golan and release immediately the Syrian detainees in Israeli prisons; requests the Secretary-General to disseminate the present resolution as widely as possible and to report on this matter to the Council at its sixty-first session; and decides to continue its consideration of the human rights violations in the occupied Syrian Golan at its sixty-first session.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.31) on the Right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, adopted by a vote of 43 in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions, the Council calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to end immediately its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which constitutes a wrongful act of continuing character entailing its international responsibility, and to reverse and redress any impediments to the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Palestine, in accordance with the legal findings and determinations of the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, and reaffirms its support for the solution of two States, Palestine and Israel; and urges all States to adopt measures to promote the realisation of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and to render assistance to the United Nations regarding the implementation of this right. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.32/Rev.1) on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan, adopted by a vote of 34 in favour, 3 against and 10 abstentions (as orally revised), the Council reiterates its request to the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, as mandated by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 55/32 of 5 April 2024, to prepare a report on the identities of settlers, as well as settler groups and their members, that have engaged in or continue to engage in acts of violence, intimidation, harassment or terror against Palestinian civilians and the actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, and by third States to ensure accountability for violations or abuses of international law in this regard, and requests, instead, that the report be submitted to the Council at its sixty-first session; and requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to report on the implementation of the provisions of the present resolution to the Human Rights Council at its sixty-first session. 

    Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item Nine on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Forms of Intolerance: Follow-up to and Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.18) on Combatting intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the High Commissioner to prepare and submit to the Council at its sixty-first session a comprehensive follow-up report with elaborated conclusions based upon information provided by States on the efforts and measures taken for the implementation of the present resolution.

    Action on Resolutions Under Agenda Item 10 on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

    n a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.8) on Technical assistance and capacity-building for Mali in the field of human rights, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to extend the mandate of Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Mali for a period of one year in order to permit the mandate holder to continue to evaluate the situation of human rights in Mali; and requests the Independent Expert to submit a report to the Council at its sixty-first session; decides to hold a dialogue at its sixty-first session, in the presence of the Independent Expert and representatives of the Government of Mali, to assess the changes in the situation of human rights in the country.

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.23) on Technical assistance and capacity-building for South Sudan, adopted without a vote, the Council requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in cooperation and collaboration with the Government of South Sudan and relevant mechanisms of the African Union, to enhance the technical assistance provided to the Government of South Sudan to continue to assist it in addressing human rights challenges in the post-conflict transition; also requests the Office of the High Commissioner to present a comprehensive report to the Council at its sixty-second session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, with the participation of representatives of the African Union; and further requests the Office of the High Commissioner to submit the above-mentioned report and recommendations to the Human Rights Council, then to share them with the African Union and all relevant organs of the United Nations, including the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. 

    In a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.28) on Technical assistance and capacity-building to improve the situation of human rights in Haiti, in connection with a request from the authorities of Haiti for coordinated and targeted international action, adopted without a vote, the Council decides to extend, for a renewable period of one year, the mandate of the independent human rights expert appointed by the High Commissioner and tasked with undertaking, with the assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner and in collaboration with the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, the monitoring of the human rights situation in Haiti, ensuring, in particular, the inclusion of a gender perspective in all of his work; requests the independent expert to devote greater attention to the situation of children, women and girls and to trafficking in persons, to monitor the impact of illicit arms trafficking on the human rights situation in Haiti and to formulate recommendations to consolidate national, regional and international responses on this issue; also requests the independent expert to provide advice and technical assistance to the Government of Haiti, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, including women’s rights organizations, to assist in their efforts to ensure respect for and the promotion and protection of human rights; and requests the High Commissioner to provide to the Council, within the framework of an interactive dialogue with the participation of the independent human rights expert, an oral update on the situation of human rights in Haiti at its sixtieth session and a report on the subject at its sixty-first session.

    Other Matters

    The Council appointed three members of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Member from Central and Eastern Europe, the Russian Federation, Central Asia and Transcaucasia, Antonina Gorbunova (Russian Federation); Member from Central and South America, and the Caribbean, Anexa Brendalee Alfred Cunningham (Nicaragua); and member from the Pacific, Valmaine Toki (New Zealand).

    The Council also adopted its draft report ad referendum for the fifty-eighth session.

    ___________

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

     

    HRC25.005E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WA, OR sue Trump to protect election integrity from presidential interference

    Source: Washington State News

    SEATTLE — The States of Washington and Oregon today filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s illegal executive order attacking elections and voting rights.

    Neither the Constitution nor any federal law gives the president the authority to set rules for how states conduct elections.

    The states’ lawsuit says, this illegal executive order “harms States by purporting to override our sovereign laws governing the counting of votes and voter registration, imposing substantial costs on States to change state voting system and laws, and disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of State residents.”

    The U.S. Constitution’s Elections Clause gives states the authority to run their own elections, with exceptions for actions by Congress. The executive order also violates the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act by unfairly making it harder to vote.

    “American democracy has given agency to the oppressed, hope to the weary, and belief that our society can work for everyone,” Brown said this morning. “These truths appeal to most people, but not to a bully and an authoritarian. Donald Trump fears what he can’t control. He only feels safe when he has our rights under his thumb.”

    “We oppose requirements that suppress eligible voters and will continue to advocate for inclusive and equitable access to registration while protecting the integrity of the process. The U.S. Constitution guarantees that all qualified voters have a constitutionally protected right to vote and to have their votes counted,” said Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. “We will work with the Washington Attorney General’s Office to defend our constitutional authority and ensure Washington’s elections remain secure, fair, and accessible.”

    “Washington state has a proud history of ensuring voting is both accessible and secure. This executive order undermines that progress by creating unnecessary barriers for voters. As chair of the Senate State Government & Elections Committee, I will continue fighting to protect and preserve our democracy,” said Senator Javier Valdez (LD 46).

    “Democracy doesn’t stand still—it’s shaped every day in the legislature and our communities,” said Representative Sharlett Mena (LD 29). “We have a duty to move it forward, to ensure every voice is heard, every vote counts, and every community sees itself reflected in power. The fight for electoral reform is not just policy—it’s the ongoing work of building a democracy that includes us all.”

    The lawsuit seeks to declare most provisions of the order unconstitutional and prevent the federal government from implementing or enforcing them.

    President Trump’s attacks on elections and voting are well-documented, though his evidence to support them is not. He blamed his 2020 election loss on widespread fraud that was proven to be false. An Associated Press analysis of the six battleground states former President Biden won in the 2020 election found a combined total of 475 potentially fraudulent votes, while Biden won those states by a combined 311,257 votes.

    Trump has made similarly false claims about vote-by-mail, a practice originally championed by Washington Republicans like former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro. Washington and Oregon both use safe and secure vote-by-mail systems popular with voters because of how they improve access to democracy.

    The order would require votes sent by mail to arrive no later than Election Day to be counted, even though 18 states, including Washington and Oregon, accept ballots postmarked on or before Election Day.

    The order’s illegal and burdensome proof of citizenship requirements will disenfranchise voters. About 9 percent of U.S. citizens of voting age do not have such documents readily available, according to a 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice.

    The team in the Washington Attorney General’s Office leading the case includes Solicitor General Noah Purcell, Deputy Solicitors General Karl Smith, Kelly Paradis, Alicia Young, and Will McGinty, Assistant Attorneys General Freeman Halle, Zane Muller, and Michelle Saperstein, and professional staff members Leena Vanderwood and Kelsi Zweifel.

    -30-

    Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties.

    Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

    Media Contact:

    Email: press@atg.wa.gov

    Phone: (360) 753-2727

    General contacts: Click here

    Media Resource Guide & Attorney General’s Office FAQ

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Prosecutors This Week File Criminal Charges Against 24 Illegal Aliens Found in the United States Following Removal

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Working alongside law enforcement partners at United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal prosecutors this week filed criminal charges against 24 defendants who allegedly were found in the U.S. following removal, the Justice Department announced today.

    Among these defendants included criminals who previously were convicted of felonies prior to their removal from the United States, including one previously convicted of narcotics crimes involving methamphetamine and cocaine.

    The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison. Defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year sentence and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.

    Some of the recently filed cases are summarized below:

    • Andrés Palacios Duque, 51, of Mexico, was charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal.  Duque was removed from the U.S. in 2009 and 2015. His criminal history includes a 2014 conviction in Orange County Superior Court for transporting and possessing for sale methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base, for which he was sentenced to five years in California state prison. Assistant United States Attorney Rosalind Wang of the Orange County Office is prosecuting this case.
    • Tereso Guadalupe Martínez Reyes, 23, of Mexico, was arraigned this week on a two-count federal grand jury indictment charging him with possession of goods stolen from interstate shipment and being an alien found in the United States following removal. According to a criminal complaint previously filed in this case, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Martínez on March 13 on Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County. He had been erratically driving a black 2001 Chevrolet Suburban which contained 478 black Nike Jordan 6 Rings shoe boxes packed from floor to the roof of the vehicle. The shoes were valued at approximately $64,530 and had been stolen from a freight train. Martínez previously was removed from the United States to Mexico in February 2025. On March 18, a federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond. Martínez pleaded not guilty to the charges against him at his April 1 arraignment. He is scheduled to go on trial on May 20 in United States District Court in Los Angeles. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander H. Tran of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this case.

    Criminal complaints and indictments contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating these matters.

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

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Four Oklahoma City Men Plead Guilty to Maiming in Aid of Racketeering

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    OKLAHOMA CITY – ADAM ROUSE, 32, BRENDAN SHANE HOLDER, 32, DAMION BLAIR BRADLEY GEORGE, 30, and KRISTOPHER HAUSER, 32, all of Oklahoma City, have pleaded guilty to maiming in aid of racketeering, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

    On November 19, 2024, a federal Grand Jury returned a two-count Indictment against the defendants, charging them with maiming in aid of the racketeering activities of the Irish Mob Gang. According to the Indictment, the Irish Mob Gang is an enterprise engaged in, among other things, the distribution of controlled substances, firearms trafficking, and acts of violence. To further these day-to-day operations, the Irish Mob Gang depended on a robust enforcement group to ensure compliance with the organization’s orders, which included directing and permitting other members and associates to carry out acts in furtherance of the enterprise.

    Specially, the Indictment alleges that, for purposes of gaining entrance to and maintaining and increasing their position within the Irish Mob Gang, Rouse and Holder severed a victim’s right pinkie finger with a hatchet, while Holder, George, and Hauser all participated in the burning of a gang tattoo off the back of a victim’s head with a heated machete.

    As of April 1, 2025, each defendant has pleaded guilty to maiming in aid of racketeering. At sentencing, the defendants each face up to 30 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000.

    This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Norman Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and David McCrary are prosecuting the case.

    Reference is made to public filings for additional information.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Judge Sentences Maryland Man Who Stabbed Romantic Partner Ten Times

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON –Aron Williams, 33, of District Heights, Maryland, was sentenced today, for stabbing his romantic partner, on February 23, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

                Williams pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill on January 27, 2025, before the Honorable Jason Park in D.C. Superior Court.

                Today, Judge Park sentenced Williams to 10 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.

                According to the government’s evidence, on February 23, 2024, an argument ensued between Williams and the victim, his romantic partner. During that argument, Williams became enraged and began strangling the victim with both hands around her neck before grabbing a large hunting knife from a chair. He then took the knife and stabbed the victim approximately ten times on both arms, both legs, her mouth, and her wrist. She started bleeding heavily, as the gash to her wrist was to the bone and the gash to her mouth nearly severed her lip from her face. He eventually fled, forcing his romantic partner and her son to call 911. She required emergency surgery to repair the cut to her wrist and stitches to close the wounds on her mouth, arms, and legs.

                In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

                They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Hyde from the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Section, who prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Vohra Wound Physicians Management and Its Owner Alleging False Claims for Wound Care Services

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Vohra Wound Physicians Management and Its Owner Alleging False Claims for Wound Care Services

    The United States filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against Vohra Wound Physicians Management LLC (Vohra) and its founder and majority owner, Dr. Ameet Vohra, for allegedly causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for overbilled and medically unnecessary wound care services. Vohra is one of the nation’s largest specialty wound care providers and contracts with hundreds of nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities throughout the country to provide wound care services to those facilities’ patients at their bedside.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Trahan Leads Bipartisan Coalition Demanding the Trump Administration Reverse Pay Cuts for Federal Correctional Officers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of House Democratic leadership, led a bipartisan group of 36 lawmakers in writing a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Associate Deputy Director Kathleen Toomey urging them to rescind the Trump administration’s cuts to the retention pay of BOP correctional officers (COs) and healthcare professionals while simultaneously eliminating all future BOP recruitment incentives.
    “We write to express our serious concern regarding the Bureau of Prison’s decision to cut the retention pay of hardworking Bureau of Prisons correctional officers and healthcare professionals and cancel all future BOP recruitment incentives. The decision to reduce or eliminate entirely the retention pay of over 23,000 BOP employees is dangerous and will cause our federal prison system to buckle under the weight of increasing numbers of incarcerated individuals and major staffing shortages. The brave correctional officers and healthcare professionals who show up to work each day play an integral part in ensuring the safety of employees, inmates, and our communities,” wrote the lawmakers.
    In late February, more than half of the BOP workforce was told that their retention pay would be significantly reduced or eliminated entirely, with some employees seeing a pay decrease of up to 25%. Retention incentives serve as a crucial mechanism for upholding staffing levels at understaffed facilities. The U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) annual report, issued last November, revealed that every BOP facility in the nation lacked sufficient staffing. The report also revealed that staffing shortages are directly tied to the safety of correctional officers, impairing their capacity to prevent inmate fatalities and leading to higher recidivism rates, which in turn threatens public safety.
    “To make matters worse, BOP does not have an acting director or an acting deputy director. In fact, since President Donald Trump took office, the Director of BOP was fired, the Acting Director who took her place subsequently resigned, and five other senior leaders resigned. The lack of leadership and oversight from senior leaders at the agency further proves these cuts are counter to the agency’s stated mission. With some impacted correctional officers and healthcare professionals expecting to see a pay decrease of up to 25% of their current income, we are extremely alarmed by the lack of plan to address the increased staffing shortages these decisions will cause,” the lawmakers continue. 
    Massachusetts’ sole federal corrections facility, Federal Medical Center (FMC) Devens in Ayer, houses 1,130 inmates and is just one of seven prisons across the country capable of caring for extremely ill inmates. However, a December 2024 report from the DOJ’s Inspector General found that just 81 percent of FMC Devens’ positions were filled, including 161 of 201 (80 percent) positions in the Correctional Services Department and 113 of 149 positions (76 percent) in the Health Services Department. The same report stressed the importance of recruitment and retention initiatives needed to fill these positions amid looming retirements likely to exacerbate the facility’s staffing shortage.
    A copy of the letter sent yesterday can be accessed HERE.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government of India Taking Measures To Tackle Deepfakes

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Electronics & IT

    Government of India Taking Measures To Tackle Deepfakes

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:09PM by PIB Delhi

    The policies of Government of India are aimed at ensuring a safe, trusted and accountable cyberspace for users in the country. Key regulatory initiatives taken by the Central Government to address issues of misinformation and deepfakes, are as under:

    • The Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) and the rules made there under have created a legal framework designed to protect the internet from unlawful activities to ensure safety and trust among the users.
    • The IT Act provides for punishment for various offences considered as cybercrimes such as identity theft, cheating by personation, violation of privacy, publishing/transmitting material that is obscene/ containing sexually explicit act, etc., depicting children in sexually explicit act/transmitting/ browsing child sexual abuse material, etc.
    • The IT Act and the rules made apply to any information that is generated using Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools or any other technology and those which are generated by users themselves for the purpose of defining offences.
    • To protect users in India and the Indian internet at large from the emerging harms emanating from the misuse of technologies including AI and to ensure accountability towards law of the land, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (“MeitY”) regularly engages with and receives inputs from the industry for promoting ethical use of technologies.
    • Accordingly, the Central Government after extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (“IT Rules, 2021”) and its subsequent amendments under the IT Act to address various emerging issues on the cyberspace.
    • The IT Rules, 2021 casts specific obligations on intermediaries, including social media intermediaries to not host, store or publish any information violative of any law.
    • They are also obligated to ensure their accountability that includes their expeditious action towards removal of the unlawful information categorised under the IT Rules, 2021 as notified by the appropriate government’s or on the basis of grievances received against any unlawful information.
    • Such unlawful information comprises any information that, among other things, is harmful to child or that is promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion or caste with the intent to incite violence, or that deceives or misleads the addressee about the origin of the message or knowingly and intentionally communicates any misinformation or information which is patently false and untrue or misleading in nature, or that threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, public order, or that violates any law for the time being in force.
    • Where any information is categorised as unlawful under the IT Rules, 2021, any user may make a request to the Grievance Officer of the concerned intermediary on whose platform such unlawful information is made available to the public. Upon receipt of such request, the intermediary is required to act expeditiously within the timelines prescribed under IT Rules, 2021.
    • Also, under the IT Rules, 2021, the Government has established Grievance Appellate Committees to allow users and victims to appeal online on www.gac.gov.in against decisions taken by the Grievance Officers of intermediaries in case they are dissatisfied with the decision of the Grievance Officer.
    • Taking into cognizance that there is an urgent need to address the harms and criminalities being committed through widespread circulation of misinformation and deepfakes powered by AI, MeitY conducted multiple consultations with industry stakeholders/ social media platforms to discuss the challenges identified in combating deepfakes and has issued advisories time to time, through which the intermediaries were reminded about compliance with their due-diligence obligations outlined under the IT Rules, 2021 and advised on countering unlawful content including malicious “synthetic media” and “deepfakes” to curb deepfakes and promptly remove harmful content online.
    • The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities including malicious attacks using Artificial Intelligence and countermeasures to protect computers, networks and data on an ongoing basis. In this context, an advisory on safety measures to be taken to minimize the adversarial threats arising from Artificial Intelligence (AI) based applications was published in May 2023. CERT-In has published an advisory in November 2024 on deepfake threats and measures that need to be followed to stay protected against deepfakes.
    • CERT-In has taken following measures to enhance awareness among users and organisations for safe usage of digital technologies and tackling digital risks:
    • CERT-In issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats/vulnerabilities including social engineering, phishing and vishing campaigns and countermeasures to protect computers, mobile phones, networks and data on an ongoing basis.
    • CERT-In has issued an advisory to various Ministries in November 2023 outlining the measures to be taken for strengthening the cyber security by all entities that are processing the digital personal data or information including sensitive personal data or information.
    • CERT-In operates the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) to detect malicious programs and provides free tools to remove the same, and also provides cyber security tips and best practices for citizens and organisations.
    • CERT-In provides leadership for the Computer Security Incident Response Team-Finance Sector (CSIRT-Fin) operations under its umbrella for responding to and containing and mitigating cyber security incidents reported from the financial sector.
    • Security tips have been published for users to secure their desktops and mobile phones and to prevent phishing attacks.
    • CERT-In is regularly carrying out various activities for awareness and citizen sensitization with respect to cyber-attacks and cyber frauds. CERT-In is observing the Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) during October of every year, Safer Internet Day on 1st Week Tuesday of February Month every year, Swachhta Pakhwada from 1 to 15 February of every year and Cyber Jagrookta Diwas (CJD) on 1st Wednesday of every month by organising various events and activities for citizens as well as the technical cyber community in India. CERT-In conducted several awareness activities such as Quiz, webinars, Capture the Flag event in collaboration with Government and industry partners during NCSAM 2024 with the theme “Satark Nagrik, Secure our World”.
    • In addition, the Ministry of Home Affairs (“MHA”) has established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (“I4C”) to provide a framework and eco-system for LEAs to deal with cyber-crimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. MHA has also launched the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (https://cybercrime.gov.in) to enable the public to report all types of cyber-crimes including cyber financial frauds.
    • Cybercrime incidents reported on this portal are routed to the respective State/UT law enforcement agency for further handling as per the provisions of law. The portal has distinct mechanisms for registering complaints related to financial frauds. A toll-free Helpline number ‘1930’ has been operationalised to get assistance in lodging online complaints.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Electronics & IT Shri Jitin Prasada as a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

    Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2119050)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s Address at the Releaseof Book ‘AI on Trial’ Authored by Shri Sujeet Kumar, Hon’ble Member of Rajya Sabha (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:31PM by PIB Delhi

    Good evening, all of you.

    Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, his description goes beyond an IAS officer of 1987 batch. He’s an alumnus of IIT Kanpur. Shri Sujeet Kumar, a member of the Upper House, the Council of States, House of Elders, popularly known as Rajya Sabha. I have had the good occasion and benefit to know the Hon’ble Member of Parliament inside out. He’s a lawyer, he’s an academician, he’s a positive thinker, he acts subterranean, but makes very effective contribution in the Council of States, and equally impactful contribution as part of international delegation of Bharat to global institutions.

    I had the good fortune to interact with him briefly while he was invited to the banquet when we had the presence of Chilean president a decade younger to you. He’s 49, the president of Chile happens to be about 39. I must recognise a very distinguished presence of Smt. Sudha Murthy, has been accoladed for her simplicity, contribution to society, and captivating smile, ever positive. I remember in Rajya Sabha when the time came for her to ask a supplementary, it was 12 noon, which means Question Hour starts that was Zero Hour. I said, I’ll give you precedence.

    A veteran member reacted, she is always in public domain. I said, well earned, well deserved, public spirited, for a public cause. We had the occasion also, me and Dr. Sudesh Dhankhar, when we were at the coronation of King Charles in London in that ceremony, we found a slim, simple looking girl coming to us and discovered she was then a spouse of the Prime Minister of UK, her son-in-law, and it was her daughter.

    So the traditions of what we say, sanskar, rightly filtered to the next generation. Shri Haris Beeran, he shares one thing in common with Sudha Ji, a charming smile. Rekha Sharma recently became a member of Rajya Sabha from the state of Haryana, but has all India perspective, having occupied a very significant position of Chairperson of National Women’s Commission.

    Mithlesh Kumar, well grounded to real politics, and also his presence at this function reveals he is very forward looking. Well, these constitute the, if I may say, contingent from the Upper House. We are enormously benefited by Tapir Gao, a member in the House of People, popularly known as Lok Sabha, from the state of Arunachal. Me and Dr. Sudesh Dhankar had the occasion to attend a very important programme just a month or two back in his state, a great state, a state with many tribes, culture and his colleague, Kiren Rijiju Ji is our minister for Minority Affairs.

    Ladies and gentlemen, it is for the first time in this country that a person professing Buddhism is a Cabinet Minister that indicates our inclusive approach. The world must learn from India, Bharat, the concept of inclusivity. Yet, some try to impart lessons to us. It does happen on occasions that those who are to learn quickly become your teachers. But then, they learn fast if they are in positive frame.

    Shri Pradeep Gandhi, I share something very different with him. He’s an ex-MP, I’m also one. But I am an ex-MP with a difference. My category of MPs in 89 to 91, 96 to 97, 98. axed-MP, we did not have the occasion to complete our term. We have amongst us Shri Rajit Punhani, an IAS officer of 1991 batch, Secretary to the Council of States, alumnus of Doon School, alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, President of the Union of St. Stephen’s, Harvard. IIM Bangalore, and he’s from the State of Bihar.

    I must commend his role in human resource transformation in Rajya Sabha, and for crafting a very innovative skill for Rajya Sabha interns. Alongside, Sumant Narain, another Harvard product, Indian Audits and Accounts Service. We have Mahaveer Singhvi, Indian Foreign Service.

    We have a journalist here who is more seen on television, like some of our parliamentarians. Because our parliamentarians are drawn from my one-time fraternity. I say one-time fraternity because, when I took oath of office of Governor of the State of West Bengal, my son as a senior advocate had to be suspended. So, I parted company with the jealous mistress. I see him. He’s extremely fond of young lawyers and promoting them on television.

    There’s another journalist also, nearly having the same size as he has, with a little more height. I was having you in mind. Then, of course, Tosif Alam, the co-author.  Well, I greet each and everyone present in this hall. But my real greetings to team Sujeet Kumar.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I was extremely, all my life, benefited from intelligence. That intelligence, I call it SDI, Sudesh Dhankar Intelligence. That intelligence has always held me in good state, generating in me transparency, accountability, and has a very strong sense of disciplining. I dare not reveal the rest of it.

    AI on Trial is a fascinating, illuminating book on a subject of huge contemporaneous relevance. Artificial intelligence invasion, incursion in our daily life is being felt by all of us. Its seismic impact is on every part of our activity. Disruptive technologies, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, blockchain, machine learning, used to be just words but now, artificial intelligence is the buzzword. On a lighter note, let me tell you, a member of the Parliament from journalistic category, did not reflect due diligence while sending a notice to get suspension of the working of the house, so that her subject, I have revealed the gender inadvertently, gets precedence. She sent it on a particular date and wanted suspension of the house that had already taken place five days ago.

    I lamented that even artificial intelligence cannot help me to suspend which has already fructified but we never know, there may be a time when artificial intelligence couldn’t go that far also. While I congratulate the authors for their dedication to this critical field and for contributing in an area that will define not only our economic trajectory, in a sense guide our ethical compass for decades to come, but also impacts every societal activity. Artificial intelligence has got such fast traction. It is known to one and all, be it a village, be it semi-urban, urban, or highly urbanised areas, the meadows. It has agitated our minds, also generated concerns but ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you, last 10 years, India is defined as the nation that has had the highest growth amongst large nations.

    Its exponential economic upsurge, phenomenal infrastructure growth have been accoladed by global institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. But the greatest certification has emanated from global institutions in respect of technological penetration. India’s landscape is now dotted with technological footprint everywhere and that is why the World Bank President reflected what India has achieved in technologically spread out in about six years that is not possible even in four decades.

    We as a Nation have tested accessibility of technology and revealed to the world high degree of adaptability resulting in transparency, accountability of services. Youngsters would not even know that to pay an electricity bill or a water bill or a telephone bill. One was compelled to take a day’s leave. The queue was long. Getting a railway ticket or a platform ticket. All this is now in your hand, your mobile. Our mobile coverage, I can say, is reaching nearly saturation point.

    The visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi was reflected. When he thought of banking inclusion and brought about 550 million people, mostly in the villages, into banking service industry. In the shortest time that has stood us in good state during COVID. And also, imagine a Nation where farmers, hundred million in number, get three times a year, direct transfer into their bank accounts but we have to be extremely worry also. AI, the gene, is out of the bottle and it can be extremely destructive. It can create havoc if not regulated, in the age of defects, working of deep state, wokeism. These menacing trends can get wings if this gene of artificial intelligence is not regulated.

    To put it for young minds, a nuclear power can give you energy. Nuclear power can lighten houses, run industry but it can also be destructive. Therefore, we have both the possibilities before us. This calls for something on which the book has deeply focused. The author, Shri Sujeet Kumar, has given illustrations. If you see one of the most widely propagated on social media, one was taking a route using artificial intelligence but the road was broken in between. AI did not show it and it was a disaster.

    It can be a challenge to nations, organised societies, because it is a power that is now available to all. India, being the fastest growing country in the last 10 years, is no longer a nation with a potential. Our objective is well set out to be a developed nation by 2047, if not before. And that requires for us to harness every available area and vista of opportunity because our income has to go eightfold per capita and that being the situation, we must look to harness artificial intelligence for our benefit and that surely can be done.

    I would say India is amongst the few nations in the world that have focused on this aspect, much before others. But we are the most populous country, largest, oldest, most vibrant democracy. Regulating artificial intelligence is daunting, frightening, but imperative. Right balance will have to be struck between regulating artificial intelligence and fostering innovation, this is fundamental. Overregulation can choke like over disciplining a child. We don’t have to impede the spirit of entrepreneurship but at the same time, we have to be extremely cognisant of the evil effects. Underregulation can endanger public safety, perpetuate bias, and erode trust.

    The author in his address had reflected on these problems. One of the greatest challenges that we face these days is, and let me come to the institution which I preside, every word is spoken in the Council of States by a member of Parliament. The Member of Parliament has the immunity from civil prosecution, criminal prosecution. The constitutional protection given to the member, even if the observations are slanderous, malicious, defamatory, damaging reputations of people, setting narratives that are anti-national, not factually well-premised, no citizen of the country can take action. Therefore, action has to be taken by the Council of States, self-regulation. But then, the quickest we can do is, if an Hon’ble Member makes an objectionable observation, it can be expunged. That is expunged only from the record. That is expunged only for posterity. But it gets the widest traction, how to deal with it.

    I have tasked a committee headed by a senior parliamentarian, Ghanshyam Tiwari Ji. He heads a committee on ethics, to devise ways and means. One is counselling members. Secondly, calling upon the political parties that put their people in these institutions to discipline them, sensitise them but the critical question is, how do we save the damage? Artificial intelligence has an answer. Machine learning for me, to begin with, was only machine plus learning but it’s a mechanism that can deal with this menace in split seconds. So technology will have to be availed to make things a little more soothing to society.

    We must therefore design regulation as a scaffold, not a cage. Our goal should be to enable a framework where responsible innovation thrives and sinister designs, pernicious designs, are neutralised. A risk-based, sector-specific, and principle-driven approach may serve us well in this regard. For instance, the level of scrutiny required for AI used in medical diagnostics should differ from the artificial intelligence creating social media feeds. We must assert India’s cyber sovereignty as much as we do the sovereignty understood in common parlance. But we have to be aligned to global standards. There can be no stand-alone activity in such kind of situations. There will have to be global convergence. All stakeholders will have to come on one platform so that we have a global, rule-based order in the field of artificial intelligence.

    India is a unique country, our civilisational depth is more than 5,000 years. Our ethos, our culture, our values, our knowledge is reflected in our Vedas, our epics. India has been a thought leader for centuries. A global centre of culture. Our institutes of excellence were thrown by scholars from all over the world Takshashila, Nalanda, to name only two. They came, gave us much, took away much, shared it, our treasure.

    In G20, India has taken a great initiative to generate a global community and that was reflected in India’s G20 motto, “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. It was the vision of the Prime Minister that brought in the fold of G20 nations of the African Union. European Union was already represented. Global South in neglect for quite long. A word not even known to many. But an important segment of countries in global polity and economy was put on the centre stage. We need to work out something where artificial intelligence can be on that level. The first step has been taken through our India Stack Programme. We are making many of our digital governance solutions open source so the journey of other developing nations gets this facility. Most importantly, the impact of artificial intelligence on ordinary citizens must be at the heart of regulatory regime.

    An ordinary person will not be able to find solutions on his own. The system must provide automatic, inbuilt relief to ordinary citizens. To protect our citizens from the hazards of artificial intelligence, we need enforceable rights, such as right to explanation, the right to contest automated decisions. Decisions are automated. How to contest them, we are not aware and the right to opt out of algorithmic processing, especially when decisions impact livelihoods, liberty, and dignity.

    Artificial Intelligence has generated a compulsive scenario for us. It has forced us to re-examine existing jurisprudence. Traditional legal concepts like liability, or even personhood come under pressure when actions are carried out by autonomous systems. Artificial intelligence opacity challenges legal transparency and accountability principles. Delegating legal interpretation to unexplainable systems undermines judicial trust.

    Current legal artificial intelligence use lacks, this use is not complete. If we use current legal artificial intelligence, we find one deficiency. It lacks comprehensive regulation and oversight. There is urgent need for standards and safeguards to prevent consequences of unregulated artificial intelligence. Debate continues to raise all over whether artificial intelligence promotes legal consistency or perpetuates historical biases.

    Justice at the risk, and the risk is great, justice at risk when algorithms lacking human qualities influence law, judgments can’t be robotised. There can be no artificial intelligence replication. Sometimes the distinction is too fine to be detected even by artificial intelligence. It is the brain of the judge, the discerning brain, that finds a resolution.

    This book, friends, provides a road map for responsible artificial intelligence integration through case studies and regulation proposals. To put it in layman’s language, if you wish to know a gentleman, Google has enough to give you. You can assimilate it, but trust me, you will be ignorant of the person.  You have to go much beyond Google, you have to go much beyond artificial intelligence to know the man.

    Future of legal artificial intelligence requires deliberate shaping by professionals and policy makers. Friends, if artificial intelligence is not regulated, we will face trial by artificial intelligence. That will be a tough trial. The fundamentals of legal jurisprudence, like opportunity of hearing, a fair process, are its first casualty. Therefore, to prevent that, time is now to focus on ‘Artificial Intelligence on Trial’.

    Every person now has power in his hand because of smartphones. Media has come to be defined very differently.

    People are increasingly focused. The focus is intense on social media. The news sharing is the fastest on social media but what happens if it is moderated? It is manipulated? It is inspired by interests inimical to Bharat? It is aimed at destroying our constitutional institutions? Let me give you a highly alarmingly concerning aspect.

    Access to judiciary is a fundamental right and when it comes to challenge to individual’s fundamental rights, the doors of the highest court are open under Article 32 petitions but what we have seen of late?

    Access to judiciary has been weaponised by forces in a systemic manner, fuelled by extra-legal mechanisms, dubiously financed, and the object being to destroy core values of Bharat. We have to be extremely worried.

    I must share a deep concern with you, while institutions have to self-regulate themselves but parliamentary institutions and judiciary blossom only when they self-regulate. We must have respect for these institutions’ inter se, and I hold every institution in high regard. But I firmly believe if there is an incursion in the domain of an institution, be it executive, judiciary, or legislature, by another institution, the doctrine of separation of powers will be stressed.  The stress will be severe. The consequences may be huge.

    Therefore, time has come. These institutions also, one, to apply technology like artificial intelligence to enhance, to secure cutting-edge in their administrative working, and in delivering in their core areas, like judiciary has to deliver through judgments, legislature has to do it through legislation, and holding the executive accountable.

    But similarly, and it is undoubtedly a considered proposition, in all democratic nations, executive governance is the only way of life, because people elect their representatives for governance and for legislation but those who have the numbers get into executive seat from governments. If executive function is performed not by the government but by legislature or by judiciary, where is the accountability? Executive governance by another institution other than government is antithetical to our constitutional values.

    It is negation of power of the people, ‘We the People’, who gave us this constitution. Therefore, such kind of technologies can really get into even-handedness working, equitable working. The equilibrium can be maintained. I strongly advocate that we must be extremely sensitive to institutional domains. But at the same time, we must have highest regard for our institutions. 

    We as a nation are proud for our Parliament, that we are proud of our judiciary. We are equally proud of our executive and you have to look back for last 10 years, our performance, and you will know the statement is well thought out, well premised.

    I must also advert to another aspect. India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, much is being talked about it. People are having varying opinions, and that is the essence of democracy. Because a dialogue requires varying opinions. No one can be judgmental that I alone am right in democracy. Our Digital Personal Data Protection Act is a landmark step, but it now has to evolve in tandem with artificial intelligence regulation. Consent must be meaningful, those who are lawyers know it. A consent that is not free is no consent in law. And free means real freedom to give your consent. Consent cannot be buried in opaque and abstruse terms of service. I am sometimes surprised when I use my mobile phone, go to some application, there is pressure, I agree.

    Now in utter helplessness, you concede a very personal ground. Unknowingly, you are lured or forced. Otherwise, the utilisation doesn’t fructify with ease. Consent cannot be in opaque and abstruse terms of service. Anonymisation, data minimisation, and purpose limitation must be rigorously enforced.

    The regulation of artificial intelligence must be very transparent. It must go hand in hand with re-skilling and workforce planning. As artificial intelligence displaces certain tasks, it will. Because it has come to your house, come to your office. It does jobs sometimes better than normal resource and then an impression is gathered. Are we risking the jobs of people who work? Maybe in some situations, but then it does offer the stars of involvement. We must look in that direction. This requires that we must invest very heavily in education, vocational training, digital literacy, particularly for those who are marginalised, who are vulnerable, who need hand-holding situations.

    Artificial intelligence, the governance part of it, I see it after deep thought, cannot be left only to technocrats or corporations. Democratic oversight is quintessence of democracy. Citizen engagement and transparency are essential. India’s parliamentary committees, judicial forums, and civil society, all are stakeholders. They must converge to secure the citizen against ill effects, evil effects of artificial intelligence.

    Now, artificial intelligence, disruptive technologies are like another industrial revolution. There is paradigm shift every moment.  We seem to be on quicksand when it comes to technological changes. Changes are taking place by the hour, I can say by the seconds. Therefore, to regulate something that is as dynamic as artificial intelligence, we need an agile and empowered institutional framework.

    A national artificial intelligence authority or commission, independent but accountable with representation from government, industry, academia, and civil society could serve as a think tank. Let me give a simple illustration. This is turning out into a huge problem.  People are losing the money from their banks. Now, artificial intelligence must find a solution that once something is stolen by electronic means on account of an inadvertent error or whereas citizen becomes prey to mischief in technology to neutralise and ensure traction of money is controlled. We are still very conventional.

    The person has to go to a police station, and we find the area is in another state, so a physical visit has to be made. By that time, the crooks, the rogues who get themselves this kind of unjust enrichment move their working pattern. We need to do something about it.

    I greatly appreciate the effort of Sujeet Kumar and his young colleague, Tosif Alam, and I have carefully gone through, having had the benefit of book in advance, of the comments that emanated from Justice Ranjan Gogoi and our N. R. Narayana Murthy, Justice T. S. Sivagnanam. He was a judge when I was governor of the state of Bengal.

    Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a technocrat with deep belief, I share one thing in common with our young friend, Tauseef Alam. Salman Khurshid is a dear friend of mine, a distinguished senior advocate, and you have to learn a lot from his style. He absorbs everything which is a challenge by way of thought process, but makes his point in a subtle manner.

    Friends, in conclusion, the topic of regulation of AI will determine the kind of society we aspire to be. It has become a most important factor where we will be. Do we wish to become a digital dystopia where humans serve algorithm or a humane artificial Indian society where technology serves the people? The choice is ours. The choice is well known. There is nothing in artificial intelligence, it is far away from the human mind, so we must use capacity of human mind to regulate this artificial intelligence.  It is on trial as per the book.

    Let artificial intelligence not put us on trial. I’m extremely happy to release this book. It will be an eye-opener to everyone in all spheres of life. I wish the authors success for their next venture.

    Thank you so much.

    ****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Directive for the Efficient and Effective Management of Litigation by the Government of India

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:29PM by PIB Delhi

    In furtherance of the Government of India’s policy to prevent, regulate, and reduce litigation involving the Union of India, the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA), Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India, has formulated the “Directive for the Efficient and Effective Management of Litigation by the Government of India”. This Directive has been developed pursuant to the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries (CoS), chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. It shall be applicable to all Ministries and Departments of the Central Government, including their attached and subordinate offices, autonomous bodies, as well as Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) in matters pertaining to arbitration.

    The Directive adopts a comprehensive approach in reinforcing the goal of good governance, ensuring public welfare, and facilitating the timely dispensation of justice. It aims to introduce stringent measures to simplify legal procedures, prevent unnecessary litigation, address inconsistencies in notifications and orders, minimise unwarranted appeals, streamline inter-departmental coordination in litigation, ensure greater public accountability in arbitration matters, and establish a robust Knowledge Management System (KMS) to improve and enhance the efficiency of legal processes.

    The implementation of the recommendations outlined in the Directive will be reviewed by the Committee of Secretaries, chaired by the Cabinet Secretariat.

    *****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Digital dystopia where humans serve algorithms or a humane society where technology serves the people, questions VP

    Source: Government of India

    Digital dystopia where humans serve algorithms or a humane society where technology serves the people, questions VP

    VP calls for right to explanation, right to contest automated decisions for citizen protection

    Need the right balance between regulating artificial intelligence and fostering innovation, underlines VP

    VP calls for independent and accountable National Artificial Intelligence Authority

    Consent that is not free is no consent in law; Consent cannot be buried in opaque and abstruse terms of service-VP

    AI opacity challenges legal transparency and accountability principles-VP

    We must assert India’s cyber sovereignty-VP

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 8:52PM by PIB Delhi

    The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today emphasised on the need for regulation for AI while maintaining the right balance between regulation and fostering innovation. The Vice-President today underscored that, “ Regulation of AI will determine the kind of society we aspire to be. It has become a most important factor where we will be ! Do we wish to become a digital dystopia where humans serve algorithms or a humane Indian society where technology serves the people? The choice is ours. The choice is well known.”

    Addressing the gathering at the release of the book ‘AI on Trial’ authored by Hon’ble member of Rajya Sabha, Shri Sujeet Kumar at Vice-President’s Enclave today, Shri Dhankhar stated,  “Regulating Artificial Intelligence is daunting, frightening, but imperative. Right balance will have to be struck between regulating artificial intelligence and fostering innovation. This is fundamental. Overregulation can choke like over-disciplining a child. We don’t have to impede the spirit of entrepreneurship. But at the same time, we have to be extremely cognizant of the evil effects. Under regulation can endanger public safety, perpetuate bias and erode trust.”

    “……to regulate something that is as dynamic as artificial intelligence, we need an agile and empowered institutional framework. A national artificial intelligence authority or commission, independent but accountable with representation from government, industry, academia, and civil society could serve as a think tank. We must therefore design regulation as a scaffold, not a cage. Our goal should be to enable a framework where responsible innovation thrives, and sinister designs, pernicious designs, are neutralised. A risk-based, sector-specific, and principle-driven approach may serve us well in this regard. For instance, the level of scrutiny required for AI used in medical diagnostics should differ from the Artificial Intelligence creating social media feeds……impact of artificial intelligence on ordinary citizens must be at the heart of regulatory regime. An ordinary person will not be able to find solutions on his own. The system must provide automatic, inbuilt relief to ordinary citizens. To protect our citizens from the hazards of artificial intelligence, we need enforceable rights, such as right to explanation, the right to contest automated decisions. Decisions are automated. How to contest them, we are not aware and the right to opt out of algorithmic processing, especially when decisions impact livelihoods, liberty, and dignity.

    ”, he added.

    “..we have to be extremely wary also. AI, the genie is out of the bottle, and it can be extremely destructive. It can create havoc  if not regulated. In the age of deep fakes, working of Deep State, wokeism, these menacing trends can get wings if this genie of Artificial Intelligence is not regulated. To put it for young minds,  a nuclear power can give you energy. Nuclear power can lighten houses, run industry, but it can also be destructive, and therefore, we have both the possibilities before us”, he cautioned.

    In his address he further stated, “The regulation of artificial intelligence must be very transparent. It must go hand in hand with re-skilling and workforce planning. As artificial intelligence displaces certain tasks, it will. Because it has come to your house, come to your office. It does jobs sometimes better than normal resource and then an impression is gathered. Are we risking the jobs of people who work? Maybe in some situations…..this requires that we must invest very heavily in education, vocational training, digital literacy, particularly for those who are marginalised, who are vulnerable, who need hand-holding situations”.

    Underlining the importance of cyber sovereignty, he stated, “We must assert India’s cyber sovereignty as much as we do the sovereignty understood in common parlance but we have to be aligned to global standards.  There can be no standalone activity in such kind of situations. There will have to be global convergence. All stakeholders will have to come on one platform so that we have a global rule-based order in the field of Artificial Intelligence.”

    Talking about the ramifications of AI in the legal domain, Shri Dhankhar stated, “Artificial intelligence has generated a compulsive scenario for us. It has forced us to re-examine existing jurisprudence. Traditional legal concepts like liability, or even personhood come under pressure when actions are carried out by autonomous systems. Artificial intelligence opacity challenges legal transparency and accountability principles. Delegating legal interpretation to unexplainable systems undermines judicial trust…..If we use current legal artificial intelligence, we find one deficiency. It lacks comprehensive regulation and oversight. There is urgent need for standards and safeguards to prevent consequences of unregulated artificial intelligence. Debate continues all over, whether artificial intelligence promotes legal consistency or perpetuates historical biases.…Justice is at the risk, and the risk is great, justice at risk when algorithms lacking human qualities influence law, judgments can’t be robotised. There can be no artificial intelligence replication. Sometimes the distinction is too fine to be detected even by artificial intelligence. It is the brain of the judge, the discerning brain, that finds a resolution.”

    Emphasising on the significance of meaningful consent, Shri Dhankhar stated,“ Our Digital Personal Data Protection Act is a landmark step, but it now has to evolve in tandem with artificial intelligence regulation. Consent must be meaningful, those who are lawyers know it. A consent that is not free is no consent in law and free means real freedom to give your consent. Consent cannot be buried in opaque and abstruse terms of service. I am sometimes surprised when I use my mobile phone, go to some application, there is pressure, I agree. Now in utter helplessness, you concede a very personal ground. Unknowingly, you are lured or forced otherwise, the utilisation doesn’t fructify with ease. Consent cannot be in opaque and abstruse terms of service. Anonymisation, data minimisation, and purpose limitation must be rigorously enforced.”

    Shri Sujeet Kumar, MP, Rajya Sabha; Smt. Sudha Murthy, MP, Rajya Sabha; Smt. Rekha Sharma, MP, Rajya Sabha; Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, Secretary to the Vice-President of India; and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

    ****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament adjourns sine-die

    Source: Government of India

    Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament adjourns sine-die

    Productivities of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during Budget Session were approximately 118% and 119% respectively

    16 Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament 

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:14PM by PIB Delhi

    The Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament which commenced on Friday, the 31st of January, 2025, adjourned sine-die on Friday, the 4th of April, 2025. In between both Houses were adjourned for recess on Thursday, the 13th of February, 2025 to reassemble on Monday, the 10th of March, 2025 to enable Department related Standing Committees to examine and report on the Demands for Grants relating to various Ministries/Departments.

    The Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju held a press conference today after the end of the Budget Session, 2025 of Parliament. The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice & Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal and the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L. Murugan were also present on the occasion. Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju informed that the first part of the Budget Session yielded a total of 9 sittings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.  In the second part of the Session, there were 17 sittings of both Houses.  During the entire Budget Session, in total, there were 26 sittings.

     

    This being the first Session of the year, the President addressed both Houses of Parliament assembled together in terms of Article 87(1) of the Constitution, on 31st of January, 2025. Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Lok Sabha was moved by Shri Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and seconded by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad.  This item engaged the Lok Sabha for 17 Hours 23 minutes against allotted time of 12 Hours. 173 Members participated in the discussion. In Rajya Sabha it was moved by Smt. Kiran Choudhary and seconded by Shri Neeraj Shekhar. This item engaged the Rajya Sabha for 21 Hours 46 minutes against allotted time of 15 Hours. 73 Members participated in the debate. The Motions of Thanks on President’s Address were discussed and adopted after reply from the Prime Minister by the two Houses during the first part of the Session.

    The Union Budget for 2025-26 was presented on Saturday, the 1stof February, 2025. General Discussion on the Union Budget was held in both Houses in the first part of the Session.  This engaged the Lok Sabha for 16 Hours 13 minutes against allotted time of 12 Hours and 169 Members took part in the debate and Rajya Sabha for 17 Hours 56 minutes against allotted time of 15 Hours and 89 Members participated in the discussion.

    During the second part of the Session, Demands for Grants of individual Ministries of Railways, Jal Shakti and Agriculture & Farmers Welfare were discussed and voted in Lok Sabha. In the end the Demands for Grants of the remaining Ministries/ Departments were put to the Vote of the House on Friday, the 21stof March, 2025. The related Appropriation Bill was also introduced, considered and passed by Lok Sabha on 21.03.2025 itself.

    Appropriation Bills relating to Second and Final Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2024-25; Excess Demands for Grants for the year 2021-22 and Supplementary Demands for Grants of Manipur for the year 2024-25 and Demands for Grant on Account for the year 2025-26 in respect of the State of Manipur were also passed on 11.03.2025 in Lok Sabha. 

    The Finance Bill, 2025 was passed by Lok Sabha on 25.03.2025.

    In the Rajya Sabha the working of the Ministries of Education, Railways, Health & Family Welfare and Home Affairs were discussed. 

    The Rajya Sabha returned the Appropriation Bills related to Second and Final Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2024-25; Excess Demands for Grants for the year 2021-22 and Supplementary Demands for Grants for Manipur for the year 2024-25 and Demands for Grant on Account for the year 2025-26 in respect of the State of Manipur on 18.03.2025.

    The Appropriation Bill relating to the Demands for Grants for Union for the year 2025-26 and the Finance Bill, 2025 were also returned by Rajya Sabha on 27.03.2025. 

    As such the entire Financial Business was completed in the Houses of Parliament before 31stof March, 2025.

    Statutory Resolution approving the proclamation issued by the President on 13thFebruary, 2025 under Article 356(1) of the Constitution in relation to the State of Manipur was also adopted in both the Houses in their extended sittings on 3rdand 4thof April, 2025, respectively.

    After the presentation of the report of the Joint Committee, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed, which seeks to focus on improving the management of waqf properties, empowerment of stakeholders relevant to management of waqf properties, improving the efficiency in survey, registration and case disposal process, and development of waqf properties. While the core purpose remains to manage waqf properties, the aim is to implement modern and scientific methods for better governance.” The Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923 was also repealed.

    The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to bring more clarity and convergence in the roles of different organizations working in the field of Disaster Management to strengthen the efficient working of the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities, empower the National Disaster Management Authority and the State Disaster Management Authorities to prepare the disaster plan at national level and state level,  provide for creation of disaster database at national and state level, make provision for constitution of “Urban Disaster Management Authority” for State Capital and large cities having Municipal Corporation and make provision for constitution of “State Disaster Response Force” by the State Government has also been passed.

    The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025 relating to establishment of “Tribhuvan” Sahakri University to provide education, training, and capacity building in the cooperative sector and undertake research and development activities in related areas. It will offer degree programs, distance learning and e-learning courses, and develop centres of excellence in co-operative sector was also passed. 

    The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 has been passed to simplify the laws for requirement of passports or other travel documents in respect of persons entering into and exiting from India and for regulating matters related to foreigners including requirement of visa and registration.

    The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was also passed to improve governance standards, provide consistency in reporting by banks to the RBI, ensure better protection for depositors and investors, improve audit quality in public sector banks and bring customer convenience in respect of nominations etc.

    During this Session a total of 11 Bills (10 in Lok Sabha and 1 in Rajya Sabha) were introduced. 16 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 14 Bills were passed/returned by Rajya Sabha. Total number of Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament is 16.

    A list of Bills introduced in Lok Sabha, Bills passed by Lok Sabha, Bills passed/returned by Rajya Sabha, Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament is attached in Annexure.

    The productivity of Lok Sabha during the Budget Session, 2025 was approx. 118% and that of Rajya Sabha was approx. 119%.

    ***

    SS/ISA

    Annexure

    LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS TRANSACTED DURING THE 4th   SESSION OF 18th LOK SABHA AND 276th SESSION OF RAJYA SABHA

    (BUDGET SESSION, 2025)

     

    1.      Bills introduced in Lok Sabha

    1. The Finance Bill, 2025
    2. The Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    3. The Income-Tax Bill, 2025
    4. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    5. The Appropriation Bill (No.2), 2025
    6. The Appropriation Bill, 2025;
    7. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    8. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    9. The Appropriation Bill (No.3), 2025
    10. The Indian Ports Bill, 2025.

     

    2.      Bill introduced in Rajya Sabha

              1. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025

     

    3.      Bills Passed by Lok Sabha

    1. The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025
    2. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025
    3. The Appropriation Bill, 2025
    4. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    5. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    6. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2025
    7. The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2025
    8. The Finance Bill, 2025
    9. The Boilers Bill, 2025
    10. The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    11. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    12. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025.
    13. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
    14. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025
    15. The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025.
    16. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025.

    4.      Bills Passed/Returned by Rajya Sabha

    1. The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    2. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025
    3. The Appropriation Bill, 2025
    4. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    5. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    6. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    7. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    8. The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2025
    9. The Finance Bill, 2025.
    10. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025
    11. The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    12. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    13. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
    14. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025

    5.      Bills Passed by Both Houses.

    1. The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    2. The Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2025
    3. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025
    4. The Appropriation Bill, 2025
    5. The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025
    6. The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025
    7. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    8. The Boilers Bill, 2025
    9. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025
    10. The Appropriation Bill (3), 2025
    11. The Finance Bill, 2025.
    12. The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025
    13. The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025
    14. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
    15. The Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2025
    16. The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025.

    ***

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LOK SABHA SPEAKER TO LEAD PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO 150TH ASSEMBLY OF INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) AT TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN FROM 5 to 9 APRIL, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER TO LEAD PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO 150TH ASSEMBLY OF INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION (IPU) AT TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN FROM 5 to 9 APRIL, 2025

    LOK SABHA SPEAKER TO ADDRESS THE ASSEMBLY ON “PARLIAMENTARY ACTION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND JUSTICE”

    ON THE SIDELINES OF THE ASSEMBLY, LOK SABHA SPEAKER WILL MEET HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM OTHER PARLIAMENTS

    DURING HIS VISIT TO TASHKENT, LOK SABHA SPEAKER WILL ALSO INTERACT WITH MEMBERS OF INDIAN COMMUNITY AND INDIAN STUDENTS IN UZBEKISTAN

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 6:25PM by PIB Delhi

    Lok Sabha Speaker, Shri Om Birla is leading a Parliamentary Delegation to 150th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), being held in Tashkent from 5 to 9 April, 2025.

    The Delegation comprises of Shri Harivansh, Hon’ble Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab, MP; Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, MP; Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram, MP; Smt. Aparajita Sarangi, MP; Dr. Sasmit Patra, MP; Shri Ashok Kumar Mittal, MP; Smt.Kiran Choudhry, MP; Smt. Lata Wankhede, MP; Smt. Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MP; Shri Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary – General, Lok Sabha and Shri P. C. Mody, Secretary – General, Rajya Sabha.

    Shri Birla will address the Assembly during the High Level Segment of General Debate on the theme “Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice”.

    Members of the Indian Parliamentary Delegation will also participate in the meetings of various IPU bodies including the Governing Council, Executive Committee, Standing Committees, and various thematic panel discussions which will be held during the Assembly.

    On the sidelines of the Assembly, Shri Birla will share his perspectives on issues of common interest with his counterparts from other Parliaments.

    During his visit to Tashkent, Shri Birla will also interact with members of Indian Community and Indian students in Uzbekistan.

    ***

    AM

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    Read this release in: Hindi

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FAKE RECRUITMENT DRIVE BY NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATION MISSION

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 4:43PM by PIB Delhi

    All the recruitment against the regular posts of Group-‘A’ to ‘C’ in the Department of Rural Development is done through the respective Cadre Controlling Authorities, through the designated recruitment agency, such as Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission. Further, all the schemes of the Department of Rural Development are implemented through the State Governments/UTs; and field functionaries for implementation of such schemes are recruited by the respective State Governments.

    The Department of Rural Development has recently come across a fake website of National Rural Development and Recreation Mission (NRDRM) impersonating Department’s content and called applications from the candidates for recruitment to various post. Taking cognizance of the matter, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs was requested to take down the fraudulent websites of NRDRM. The I4C removed all the related websites of the NRDRM from the Internet. A disclaimer was also published on the website of the Ministry about this fake organisation and General public were also cautioned through public notice against the fraudulent websites of NRDRM and its fake recruitment drive. Further, this Department has also lodged an FIR in this regard.

    The Department has also, in order to ensure immediate action in such incidences, designated an officer in the Department as Nodal Officer under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000) and Information Technology (Guidelines for Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 for issuing notice to intermediaries in relation to any information which is prohibited under any law for the time being in force pertaining to this Department.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

    ******

    PawanSinghFaujdar

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Yogotsav Programme organised in Karbi Anglong; Assam Unites for Yoga

    Source: Government of India

    Yogotsav Programme organised in Karbi Anglong; Assam Unites for Yoga

    Event Marks 78 Days to International Day of Yoga 2025

    Posted On: 04 APR 2025 5:11PM by PIB Delhi

    As the countdown to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 continues, the spirit of yoga echoed across Diphu Police Reserve Camp Field, Karbi Anglong, Assam, where a vibrant Yogotsav Programme marked day 78 of the 100-day countdown to IDY. The event brought together nearly 380 enthusiastic participants, including police personnel and local citizens, in a unified celebration of wellness and inner harmony.

    Glimpses from the Yogotsav Programme organised at the Diphu Police Reserve Camp Field, Karbi Anglong, Assam on 04.04.2025

     

    Spearheaded by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) under the aegis of the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, this Yogotsav is part of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness about yoga’s transformative power—physically, mentally, and spiritually.

    The event witnessed the participation of 380 persons, including police personnel and public

    The event wasn’t just a display of asanas—it was a resounding call to embrace balance, discipline, and holistic health, echoing India’s vision of creating a healthier, happier world through the timeless wisdom of yoga.

    The event began with the practice of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) led by Dibya Jyoti Deka, a distinguished Yoga Teacher, who has been conducting yoga sessions for the Governor of Assam for the past five years, his expert guidance and calm yet energizing instructions set a serene and disciplined tone for the morning.

    Following the CYP, Yogacharya Subhasish Kar delivered an insightful session on “Yogic Tips for Better Health,” offering simple, practical ways to improve physical and mental wellness through daily yoga practices.

    A key highlight of the programme was a live Jal Neti Practical Workshop, where participants were guided through this traditional yogic cleansing technique—highly regarded for its benefits in respiratory and sinus health.

    Glimpses from the Yogotsav Programme organised at the Diphu Police Reserve Camp Field, Karbi Anglong

     

    The programme concluded with a resonating message of wellness, harmony, and the importance of incorporating yoga into daily life. As a countdown event, it effectively set the stage for the upcoming International Day of Yoga 2025, reinforcing yoga’s integral role in promoting holistic well-being for individuals and communities.

    ****

    MV/AKS

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival opens today (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The opening ceremony of the third Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival (PCF) was held today (April 4) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC). Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the PCF this year is themed “More Than Joy”. Audiences can appreciate how pop culture can be transmitted and transformed, and how integration and breakthroughs are possible in addition to joy and laughter.
     
         The Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; and an actor of the opening film “The Banquet” (1991), Mr Eric Tsang, officiated at the opening ceremony.
     
         The opening programme, “Silhouette Resonance x The Banquet (1991)”, began after the ceremony. Pop singer Alfred Hui, a cappella choral theatre company Yat Po Singers, and beatboxer Heartgrey (Eric So) together with a live band performed songs from classic comedy films with fresh arrangements by renowned musician Ng Cheuk-yin. The digitally restored version of “The Banquet” (1991) was screened following the performance. Blending entertainment with cultural artistry, the audience was offered a fresh and inspiring perspective on the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s pop culture.
     
         Another highlight programme that kicks off the PCF is outdoor music carnival “ImagineLand 2025” to be held tomorrow (April 5) and on Sunday (April 6) at the HKCC Piazza, and the Central Lawn & Event Trellis of Salisbury Garden, the Avenue of Stars free of charge. Supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, “ImagineLand 2025” features both daytime and evening programmes, encompassing music, films, comics, and more.
     
        During “ImagineLand 2025”, “Go Beyond Concert”, “Comics Fun Experience Gallery” and “Funarts Corner” will be available during the day, while film programme “Movie Under the Stars” will be held at night. Over 35 musicians and artists from Hong Kong and eight countries and regions including the Mainland, Japan, Korea, the United States, Australia, France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine will perform on the three stages of “Go Beyond Concert”, showcasing boundless possibilities of music across the performances. Major line-ups of local artists include Ivana Wong, Joey Tang, Yatfung, Cloud, Ashley Lin, Pandora, Wan Pin Chu and more, performing mesmerising popular songs and original works.
     
         At “Comics Fun Experience Gallery”, Hong Kong comics and animation from different eras will be displayed to highlight the creativity of local artists with immersive photo-taking opportunities. The exhibition also features the works of local humourist cartoonists and explores how comics intertwine with the city’s pop culture. Workshops on art, music, and crafts will be available for the public at “Funarts Corner”. In the evenings, two comedies, “Table For Six” (2022) and “Forbidden City Cop” (1996)”, will be screened at “Movie Under the Stars” tomorrow and on Sunday respectively, allowing audiences to enjoy outdoor films while relaxing on the lawn.
     
         Other highlights include the “Laughter Double Bill: Hong Kong Comedy Film Spectacular” film screening programme; exhibitions “Comic Fun for All: The Magic of Hong Kong Comedy Comics” and “Legends of HK Film Comedies, 1980s and 1990s”; concerts “The 2025 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras-Bands ‘The Animated Melodies – Our Nostalgic Memories’”, “Ko Shan Fest” and “Music & Laughs”, and more. To support the PCF’s theme of “More Than Joy”, the Hong Kong Public Libraries will also organise book displays and subject talks in a series of activities under the theme of “Happy Reading”.
     
    Several industry partners are also offering a range of events as part of the festival, which are not to be missed.
     
         Hong Kong’s pop culture has drawn inspiration particularly from humour, a constant trendsetter that has left a deep footprint on many aspects of the city’s rich and colourful pop cultural landscape. The PCF 2025, with more than 20 programmes, not only delights audiences with exciting performances and works but also offers insight into the development paths of Hong Kong’s pop culture along the line of “happiness”. By participating in these activities, audiences will be able to discover their own happiness.
     
         For more details, please visit the website: www.pcf.gov.hk, or call 2601 8703.

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