NewzIntel.com

Category: Justice

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – The EU must keep on defending universal democratic values and principles

    Source: European Parliament 3

    On Wednesday, Parliament adopted its 2024 annual report on human rights and democracy in the world, warning against the deteriorating global human rights situation.

    Denouncing the rise of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and populism, MEPs are deeply concerned by the increase in violations of democratic values and disregard for international humanitarian law.

    They condemn the weakened protection of democratic institutions and procedures, and deplore the frequent political attacks on international institutions, censorship, threats towards independent media, and shrinking space for civil society worldwide.

    They reiterate the strong support of the EU for the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC) as essential, independent and impartial jurisdictional institutions amid a particularly challenging time for international justice. MEPs also express their deep concern about the sanctions imposed on the ICC, which constitute ‘a serious attack on the international judicial system’. They call on the Commission to activate the blocking statute as a matter of urgency.

    Parliament is concerned by the threat that artificial intelligence (AI) poses for democracy and human rights when not properly regulated, and MEPs are worried about how the internet is being used to restrict political freedom and undermine the integrity of elections.

    The report also stresses the importance of protecting women’s rights, the respect of which is in decline, and MEPs deplore the discrimination and violence to which women and girls are subjected, including during conflicts.

    It is the EU’s responsibility to defend universal democratic values

    The text underscores the EU’s responsibility to continue defending universal democratic values and principles, human rights, international justice, and peace.
    It also outlines the tools available for that purpose, such as suspending European Neighbourhood policy projects that contribute directly or indirectly to human rights violations in non-EU countries, adding human rights clauses to trade agreements with third countries, and enforcing the EU’s global human rights sanctions regime (the EU Magnitsky Act). The EU has the means to promote and defend universal values, MEPs point out, and it is time to use them.

    The text recommends increasing the resources available to the EU’s Special Representative for Human Rights. It also calls on the European institutions and member states to work more closely together on promoting and defending human rights.

    The text was adopted with 390 votes in favour, 116 against and with 126 abstentions.

    Quote

    The rapporteur Isabel Wiseler-Lima (EPP, Luxembourg) stated: “Our world is entering a new era, one where international courts, democracy, the rule of law, and human rights are being constantly undermined. The EU must stand its ground and reaffirm these values, which are central to creating a world built on justice and respect. The European Parliament will never stop calling out these abuses and will do everything possible to support those who strive to protect democracy. The report we voted on today takes stock of the current situation of democracy and human rights, sets out the means we already possess to act, and outlines new measures to put in place”

    Background

    Every year, Parliament adopts three reports on foreign, security, defence, and human rights policies. These form the basis of Parliament’s contribution to shaping EU foreign policy.

    On Tuesday, MEPs discussed the 2024 annual report on human rights and democracy in a plenary debate with the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. For a video recording of the debate click here (1.4.2025).

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The never-ending sentence: How parole and probation fuel mass incarceration

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lucius Couloute, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Trinity College

    The U.S. operates one of the largest and most punitive criminal justice systems in the world. On any given day, 1.9 million people are incarcerated in more than 6,000 federal, state and local facilities. Another 3.7 million remain under what scholars call “correctional control” through probation or parole supervision.

    That means one out of every 60 Americans is entangled in the system — one of the highest rates globally.

    Yet despite its vast reach, the criminal justice system often fails at its most basic goal: preventing people from being rearrested, reconvicted or reincarcerated. Criminal justice experts call this “recidivism.” About 68% of people who leave prison in any given year are rearrested within three years, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

    It’s certainly easy to blame individuals for getting rearrested or reincarcerated. But if you take a closer look at life after release – which often includes employment discrimination, housing barriers and exclusion from basic social services – recidivism seems less like a personal failure, I would argue, and more the workings of a broken system.

    As a sociologist, I know that people are rarely given a “second chance” after conviction. Instead, they must navigate a web of legally imposed restrictions. Roughly 19 million people in the U.S. have a felony record, subjecting them to thousands of “collateral consequences,” in the words of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. These restrictions dictate everything from what jobs they can take to where they can live.

    I’ve recently undertaken research to understand the scale of this issue, aided by my former undergraduate student Skylar Hathorn, who is set to begin a master’s degree in the fall. What we found was sobering. As sociologist Reuben Miller and historian Amanda Alexander have put it, people convicted of felonies are transformed into “carceral citizens.”

    Why probation and parole are part of the problem

    Probation is community supervision, typically imposed by courts as an alternative to incarceration, and parole is a type of prison release under community supervision. While community supervision was originally designed to help those convicted of crimes reintegrate into society – through mentorship, supportive services and other resources – today, in my view, it largely functions as a punitive surveillance system.

    Instead of helping people reintegrate, the system enforces rules – such as forbidding contact with friends or family members who have criminal records – which create new challenges for people trying to rebuild their lives after prison. As one individual from my recent study on reentry put it, “That shit ain’t helping nobody.”

    On average, people under community supervision must comply with 10 to 20 conditions, such as mandatory drug tests, regular check-ins with supervising officers, or curfews. These requirements are typically set at the state, county or city level, and can be supplemented with “discretionary” or “special” conditions imposed by court or parole officials.

    But while community supervision is supposed to encourage reintegration and personal responsibility, its conditions are often unrealistic, creating hidden traps rather than pathways to success.

    For example, imagine you’re lucky enough to find a decent job despite having a criminal record – but your probation officer schedules weekly meetings during your work hours. Do you skip work and risk losing your job? Or miss the meeting and risk a violation? Research shows that this dilemma is common. In one study of almost 4,000 people on probation, 55% missed at least one meeting with their parole officer, increasing their risk of reincarceration.

    What if you aren’t able to find a job or can’t afford to pay the supervision fees charged each month? Does contact with a family member who happens to have a criminal record defy a condition of your supervision? Will a speeding ticket land you in jail, since you aren’t supposed to have any contact with law enforcement? What happens if you struggle with addiction and fail a drug test? Or what if you forget to charge your electronic ankle monitor — will your parole officer suspect foul play?

    Depending on the conditions of your release, all of these seemingly minor snags could land you back behind bars. That’s why some scholars describe this system as a “parole- and probation-to-prison pipeline.” According to recent estimates, 35% to 40% of yearly prison admissions are of people who were on community supervision at their time of rearrest. In some states, over half of all prison entries are of people on either parole or probation.

    State-level success stories – and failures

    Importantly, if you’re on probation or parole, your chances of being sent back to prison are very different depending on where you live. You can see just how different by visiting the Justice Outcomes Explorer, a new data dashboard created by the Criminal Justice Administrative Records System. For example, among Idahoans who began a term of probation in 2018, roughly 16.6% were sent to prison within a year. Among Minnesotans, it was just 1.6%.

    According to the Justice Outcomes Explorer, parole outcomes are even worse, though yet again they vary by state. Among those released on parole in 2018 from Utah prisons, roughly 51.6% were reincarcerated within a year. In California, that number was less than 7%. Although some variation may come from differences in data collection, much of it reflects policy choices.

    As sociologist Michelle Phelps explains, supervision may act as “an off-ramp for some and a conveyor belt toward prison for others.”

    Part of the problem is that probation and parole offices vary considerably. For instance, some states cap how long someone may remain on parole, while others allow parole boards to extend that time indefinitely. This creates a system where, in effect, parole boards operate as resentencing entities. Differences in supervision fees, restrictions on associating with others, and the use of electronic monitoring also vary by state.

    Research suggests that Americans under community supervision must comply with many more conditions than they did just a few decades ago, which raises the question: Does any of this work?

    While some studies suggest that contemporary forms of supervision may reduce reincarceration, recent analyses call this into question.

    For example, one study compared people who were randomly placed under intensive probation supervision — requiring more office check-ins, home visits and drug tests — with those under traditional supervision. Researchers found that while both groups committed new crimes at the same rate, those under intensive supervision received technical violations – such as failing a drug test or not following curfew – more often, and were incarcerated more.

    In another rigorous study out of Kansas, using what researchers call a “natural experiment,” legal scholar Ryan Sakoda found that post-release supervision significantly increased reincarceration rates. This suggests that community supervision keeps people trapped in the system, rather than helping them escape it.

    In fact, according to estimates from the Council of State Governments, almost one-quarter of all prison admissions are due to technical violations of supervision, not new crimes. And even progressive states can enforce technical rules rigidly. For instance, Massachusetts sends a relatively small number of people back to prison or jail while they are on parole. But after retrieving data from a public records request, Skylar and I found that between 2020 and 2022, roughly 80% of all parole revocations were due to technical violations.

    That said, the overall number of people admitted to U.S. prisons for technical violations has fallen significantly over the past few years. In 2018, roughly 133,000 people were admitted to prison for technical violations. By 2021, that number was around 89,000 – a decrease of about 33%.

    Rethinking community supervision

    Historically, community supervision wasn’t intended to be a form of punishment — it’s supposed to help individuals reintegrate. But that’s not the way it currently works. If states are serious about reducing crime, they should think about reinventing the system.

    In 2021, New York implemented the “Less is More” Community Supervision and Revocation Reform Act, which reformed parole and reduced incarceration for technical violations. The act limits jail time for such violations to 30 days, allows early parole release and requires court hearings within 30 days. Within the first month of being enacted, the number of technical parole violators had fallen by 40%. By April 2022, technical violators only made up 1.7% of the daily state jail population. They had previously made up about 5% on average.

    Along with policies that prevent criminalization in the first place, states that want to prevent recidivism could consider dedicating more resources to programs that help people with life after release. Offering supports such as housing and even direct cash assistance would help people reintegrate into society and create safer communities, research indicates.

    On a similar note, criminal records limit access to a range of resources and opportunities such as housing, higher education, voting and social benefits like basic food assistance.

    Simply having a criminal record also reduces the likelihood – by roughly 60% – that someone receives a callback after applying for a job. That’s why Skylar and I support automatic criminal record expungement, among other structural reforms.

    Put plainly: Research points toward a system in need of comprehensive solutions. Without them, many will remain in the incarceration trap.

    Skylar Hathorn, a recent graduate of Suffolk University and master’s student starting in September 2025, contributed to this article.

    Lucius Couloute has previously received funding from Mayors for a Guaranteed Income to carry out independent research on the impacts of direct cash transfers in the lives of formerly incarcerated people. Lucius is also a board member of the Prison Policy Initiative.

    – ref. The never-ending sentence: How parole and probation fuel mass incarceration – https://theconversation.com/the-never-ending-sentence-how-parole-and-probation-fuel-mass-incarceration-250578

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 23andMe is potentially selling more than just genetic data – the personal survey info it collected is just as much a privacy problem

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Kayte Spector-Bagdady, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan

    For companies like 23andMe, consumers are as much the product as the DNA test kits. Veronika Oliinyk/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    As soon as the genetic testing company 23andMe filed for bankruptcy on March 23, 2025, concerns about what would happen to the personal information contained in its massive genetic and health information database were swift and widespread. A few days after, a U.S. judge ruled that the company could sell its consumer data as part of the bankruptcy.

    The attorneys general of several states warned their citizens to delete their genetic data. California urged its citizens to request that 23andMe delete their data and destroy their spit samples. Michigan’s attorney general released a statement warning that “23andMe collects and stores some of the most sensitive personal information, our genetic code.”

    When customers originally signed up for 23andMe, they agreed to terms and conditions and a privacy notice that allows the company to use their information for research and development as well as share their data, in aggregate, with third parties. If consumers consented to additional research, which the vast majority did, the company can additionally share their individual information with third parties. 23andMe has also been clear that if it is involved in a bankruptcy or sale of assets, consumer information might be sold or transferred.

    While 23andMe has warned customers all along about everything that is currently happening, many are still surprised and concerned.

    I’m a lawyer and bioethicist who has been studying direct-to-consumer genetic testing for almost a decade. Understanding what information 23andMe has been collecting, and how it might be used if sold or shared, can help clarify concerns for consumers.

    What is 23andMe?

    In 2007, 23andMe, named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes found in a human cell, was one of the first direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies to open in the United States. It was backed by a large investment by Google, which quickly attracted the interest of other investors, allowing 23andMe to thrive when many other direct-to-consumer genetic companies went quickly out of business.

    The direct-to-consumer business model is fairly straightforward: A consumer orders a genetic test kit online, spits into a tube that comes in the mail, returns it to the company and accesses their results in an online portal. Over 15 million consumers bought 23andMe, and the vast majority consented to its research. At its peak, the company was valued at US$6 billion.

    The fate of the trove of personal information 23andMe has gathered over the years has wide-ranging implications for consumers.

    While the market initially believed in the value of 23andMe’s business model, its stock has been in decline for years, and the company owes hundreds of millions of dollars to creditors.

    Reasons for this rapid decline include a decrease in the sale of test kits after a 2023 hack of almost 7 million people’s data, as well as a failure to profit enough from providing data access to other private sector companies. Lack of private interest in 23andMe data may be related to the fact that much of the information the company collects is self-reported, which is often considered less reliable than information written down by a doctor in a medical record.

    What kind of data does 23andMe collect?

    While the saying goes “If you’re not paying, you’re the product,” 23andMe managed to convince its consumers to both pay for AND be the product. It did this by selling genetic testing kits to consumers as well as collecting a massive amount of their valuable data.

    And 23andMe collected more than just genetic data generated from consumers’ spit. Eighty-five percent of customers consented to 23andMe research, allowing their individual-level data to be used for studies. The company then collected information from survey questions about their personal health and beyond, such as drinking habits and risk tolerance.

    This means that not only does 23andMe possess the genetic data of 15 million people, but it also possesses almost a billion additional data points associated with this genetic information. This makes the 23andMe dataset potentially very private – and very valuable.

    At first, drug companies seemed to agree. For example, in 2018, 23andMe granted pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline an exclusive license to use consented customer data to develop new drugs. GlaxoSmithKline also made a $300 million equity investment in 23andMe. When 23andMe went public in 2021, its $6 billion valuation reflected the promise of this business model.

    But for over a decade, scholars, including me, have been warning that allowing 23andMe to collect and use personal data was not one that customers fully understood, or were actually comfortable with.

    What should 23andMe customers worry about?

    In response to current public concern about data privacy, 23andMe has stated that there will be no changes to how it stores and protects data during its bankruptcy proceedings. But once that stage is through, what exactly should customers worry about?

    First, law enforcement could use genetic information in civil or criminal cases. This happened in 2018, when police used the genetic testing company GEDmatch to help identify the Golden State Killer. Police pretended they were customers looking for genealogy data and sent in an old crime scene blood spot. This allowed them to connect to known suspects with blood relatives who had given their genetic information to the company as consumers. While this was in violation of GEDmatch’s own policies, the evidence was successfully used in court.

    Second, genetic information could be used to discriminate against customers if it shows that they have or are at high risk of developing a genetic disease or disorder. The federal Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prohibits health insurers and employers from asking about genetic information or using it to discriminate in work or health insurance decisions. It does not, however, protect against discrimination in long-term care or life insurance.

    Giving someone your genetic, medical and personal information gives them opportunities to exploit you.
    Westend61/Getty Images

    Many of the warnings from the media and attorneys general are focused on genetic information because it is unique to only one person. But direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies also retain a massive amount of personal information from the surveys consumers are asked to complete. Much of this information could be embarrassing if it were inadvertently or intentionally revealed, such as a person’s intelligence.

    In the 2025 book “Careless People,” former Meta executive Sarah Wynn-Williams reported that Facebook would use indications of self-consciousness about personal appearance, such as deleting a selfie, to promote beauty products. If companies know such intimate details about a person, they could not only be used to sell products, but also potentially manipulate them over social media or the internet in ways they do not even realize. It could be used for targeted advertising or to build algorithms that exploit a person’s vulnerabilities.

    I believe consumers are right to be worried about how their genetic data could be misused. But the survey data containing all sorts of other personal information are at least as much, if not more, of a privacy problem. This is particularly concerning if the data is pooled together with other information available on the internet, like a dating profile, to create a more detailed – and personal – picture of an individual.

    I am deleting my own 23andMe data. In the future, I would also warn consumers against freely gifting the private sector with information about their fears, hopes, limitations and successes.

    That information is valuable to more people than just you.

    Kayte Spector-Bagdady receives funding from the National Center for Advancing Transnational Sciences and the Greenwall Foundation.

    – ref. 23andMe is potentially selling more than just genetic data – the personal survey info it collected is just as much a privacy problem – https://theconversation.com/23andme-is-potentially-selling-more-than-just-genetic-data-the-personal-survey-info-it-collected-is-just-as-much-a-privacy-problem-253220

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cuban national sentenced to nearly a decade in federal prison for human smuggling

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    EL PASO, Texas – A Cuban national was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 111 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, conspiracy to harbor aliens, and sexual assault of an alien, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The U.S. Border Patrol assisted with the case.

    “Justice was served today for a stash house operator who organized the smuggling of hundreds of illegal aliens and sexually assaulted one of them, all while cramming individuals into tractor-trailers in the sweltering Texas heat,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens. “HSI is committed to aggressively targeting human smugglers and smuggling organizations that continuously exploit individuals for profit. We will relentlessly pursue these criminals who prey on vulnerable people, ensuring they are held accountable for their actions.”

    According to court documents, Humberto Yosvany Arriola-Rivero, 30, assisted in the harboring of illegal aliens and managed a stash house in El Paso. He also was an occupant in a vehicle that fled law enforcement that was transporting more than a dozen illegal aliens in April 2023. An investigation revealed that Arriola-Rivero sexually assaulted one of the illegal aliens at the El Paso stash house. Arriola-Rivero was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 17, 2023, and was arrested Sept. 7, 2023. He pleaded guilty Aug. 27, 2024.

    “It’s important to note that Arriola-Rivero is being held responsible not only for the significant role he played in human smuggling operations, but also for his abhorrent decision to further dehumanize and sexually violate one of his victims,” said acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “This sentence makes it clear to smugglers in El Paso and across the southern border, that if you engage in alien smuggling in our district, you will be held accountable.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Law Library Publishes New Report, “Israel: Tax Exemptions for Churches”

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The Law Library of Congress recently published a legal report, Israel: Tax Exemptions for Churches, which provides information on tax exemptions enjoyed by churches under Israeli law. The report addresses conditions for the grant of exemptions under legislation on municipal tax, income tax, value added tax, real estate tax, and property improvement levies. These include characteristics of religious organizations for qualification under the various laws, and types of qualifying properties and activities that are exempted from taxation.

    Church interior (Church of Annunciation, Nazareth) [Between 1898 and 1946]. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/matpc.09024

    We invite you to review the information provided in our report, here.

    The report is an addition to the Law Library’s Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) collection, which includes over 4,000 historical and contemporary legal reports covering a variety of jurisdictions, researched and written by foreign law specialists with expertise in each area. To receive alerts when new reports are published, you can subscribe to email updates and the RSS feed for Law Library Reports (click the “subscribe” button on the Law Library’s website). The Law Library also regularly publishes articles related to taxation in the Global Legal Monitor.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nearly 3,000 top-venting blank firers handed during national gun amnesty

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    National gun amnesty took place in February across England and Wales.

    Police forces across England and Wales have seen 2,962 Turkish manufactured guns handed in as part of a national amnesty which took place in February.

    The top-venting blank firing (TVBF) guns have become popular with organised criminals in recent years due to the ease at which they are readily convertible into lethal firearms. Tests by the National Crime Agency and policing, funded by the Home Office, show models produced by four Turkish manufacturers are readily convertible and therefore illegal. TVBFs are legal to buy in the UK without a licence by over 18s unless they are readily convertible.

    Police forces across England and Wales held a four-week Firearms Amnesty for Turkish manufactured TVBFs namely models with the brand names ‘Retay’, ‘Ekol’, ‘Ceonic’ and ‘Blow’, in February.

    Assistant Chief Constable Tim Metcalfe, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for the Criminal Use of Firearms, said: “This is a considerable step in making our streets safer and stopping these weapons from being used by criminals.

    “I would like to thank the public for their support during the amnesty and handing in these weapons which are now illegal to possess.

    “If you have any information about illegal firearms, such as the Turkish manufactured TVBF, I would ask you contact the police or Crimestoppers so that they can be taken off the streets.”

    The amnesty which took place between 3 February and 28 February 2025 saw 2,962 Turkish manufactured top-venting firers and was aimed at anyone in possession of a TVBF to hand their weapon in to avoid prosecution and up to 10 years imprisonment.

    In their original state TVBFs have a fully blocked barrel and are designed to discharge only blank cartridges. When discharged, combustion gases vent from the top of the weapon. TVBFs are sold with at least 50 per cent of their visible surface painted a bright colour however, criminals may paint them black so they look like an original lethal purpose (OLP) weapon as well as convert them to a lethal purpose firearm.

    Since 2021, UK law enforcement has recovered more than 1,000 converted TVBFs in criminal circumstances. Firearms legislation has not changed; the weapons are illegal to own under the Firearms Act 1968 as they can be readily converted using common household tools and without specialist skill on the part of the person carrying out the conversion. Testing completed by the NCA has demonstrated this.

    Charles Yates, National Crime Agency deputy director, said: “The amnesty results are excellent with very large numbers of surrenders of these easily converted firearms.

    “This work is a superb example of the public and the firearms trade coming together to help reduce the risk of the criminal use of these weapons.

    “Though firearms crime in the UK is relatively low compared with elsewhere in Europe and is among the lowest in the world, the NCA, policing and Border Force will continue to do everything possible to suppress the firearms threat and to protect the UK public.”

    Other unwanted, unlicensed firearms and ammunition may be surrendered to police at any time which will avoid the risk of them becoming involved in criminality and means that members of the community can dispose of firearms in a safe place.

    Anyone now found in possession of a Turkish manufactured TVBF will face prosecution for the illegal possession and face up to 10 years imprisonment.

    If you know of people involved in illegal firearms activity should call the Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Every call to Crimestoppers is anonymous and potentially vital to preventing or solving serious crimes; removing an illegally held firearm may just save someone’s life.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Jimmy Etheredge Joins Monarch Private Capital Executive Management Committee to Enhance Investor Value and National Impact

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, welcomes James O. (Jimmy) Etheredge, former CEO of Accenture – North America, as a member of the firm’s Executive Management Committee and a Managing Director of Corporate Solutions.

    With nearly four decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies to transform their businesses, Etheredge brings deep expertise in corporate transformation and strategic growth. As CEO, he grew Accenture’s North America business to $30 billion. He will lead a strategic initiative to optimize renewable energy, historic rehabilitation, and affordable housing tax strategies and solutions for institutional and corporate investors. His board roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Southern Company, Encora, and Grant Thornton further position him to add long-term value to Monarch’s mission of delivering financial and social benefits through impact investment strategies.

    “Joining Monarch is the culmination of a long-standing passion I have had for driving positive change through smart and innovative investments,” said Etheredge. “This opportunity allows me to leverage decades of financial experience, passion, and leadership to positively impact corporate America. I am honored to help Monarch scale its mission and align capital with real-world impact.”

    “Jimmy’s ability to build lasting relationships and drive strategic innovation makes him an invaluable addition to Monarch,” said Robin Delmer, Partner, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Monarch Private Capital. “His expertise in corporate growth and leadership in navigating evolving markets will strengthen our ability to deliver value to investors and the communities we serve.”

    Beyond his executive leadership, Etheredge contributes to the Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta Police Foundation, and the Boy Scouts of America through nonprofit board service. A Georgia native, Etheredge holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he is a trustee and member of the university’s Hill Society.

    Etheredge’s hire reinforces Monarch’s commitment to attracting proven business leaders who can help the company deliver unparalleled solutions to corporate tax equity investors.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital, visit www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs, and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film, and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT

    Jane Rafeedie

    Monarch Private Capital

    Jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com

    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c392e08a-05cb-4b38-b0ed-83b68de0312e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man jailed for murder of his daughter

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been jailed for life after the daughter he assaulted as a baby died of her injuries six years later.

    Kyle Kitchen 38, (04.08.1986), of no fixed address, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to a minimum of seven years and eight months behind bars for the murder of Primrose Kane, after assaulting her so violently that she would never learn to walk or talk.

    Kitchen was serving the 15-year sentence he was given at Blackfriars Crown Court in August 2016, having been convicted of two counts of grievous bodily harm in relation to the incident, when he was arrested for Primrose’s murder.

    In a trial which started on Monday, 10 February, the court heard Primrose’s mother and father contacted NHS 111 after she was found unresponsive at her home at Queens Crescent, Camden on Monday, 3 November 2014. She was just two months’ old.

    Doctors found Primrose suffered such severe injuries to her head, including a skull fracture and bleed on the brain, that she would grow, but remain with the mental capacity of a baby, with severe physical and developmental disabilities.

    In time, she developed cerebral palsy and scoliosis. She was unable to communicate, and suffered with chronic pain.

    While Primrose was being treated in hospital, the Met’s Child Abuse Command team launched a criminal investigation after deeming the injuries not to be accidental.

    Both her mother and father were arrested and later convicted.

    Primrose died aged six on Monday, 17 May 2021 at the home of her grandmother in Welling.

    Doctors concluded Primrose had died from pneumonia caused by profound neurological, physical and developmental disabilities.

    Homicide detectives were informed Primrose had died, and sought to determine whether the assault in 2014 contributed to her cause of death.

    The Met’s Specialist Crime Command launched an investigation, resulting in Kitchen being arrested and later charged with murder.

    He was convicted at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 12 March.

    Detective Inspector Laura Nelson, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Homicide Team, said: “Primrose was born a happy and healthy baby.

    “The reason why Kyle Kitchen lost his temper and shook his daughter remains unknown. However, his actions have resulted in Primrose’s short life being lived in pain.

    “No child should ever have to suffer in this way.

    “The fact that such serious injuries were caused by her father makes this case all the more shocking.

    “At no time, since 2014, has Kitchen shown any remorse for his actions. As a team, we have fought hard to bring justice for Primrose, whilst others close to her have been in denial about how the assault in 2014 occurred.

    “Today’s sentence will bring some closure to Primrose’s family, but this will never compensate for their loss.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/HOLY LAND – Ecumenical Group: “To expel the Palestinians from their homeland is sacrilege”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 2 April 2025

    photo by OCHA

    Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Land “”will not be overtaken by darkness,” with this quote from the Gospel of John, concludes the short document of the ecumenical group “A Jerusalem Voice for Justice,” addressing the suffering that innocent people in the Holy Land continue to suffer.The ecumenical group was recently founded in light of the new outbreak of violence and terror in the Holy Land to share the facts and events that affect the lives of people in the Land of Jesus. The network includes, among others, Archbishop Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem; Lutheran Bishop Munib Younan; Sawsan Bitar, coordinator of the Sabeel Ecumenical Center; Palestinian theologian John Munayer; Jesuit Father David Neuhaus; and Father Frans Bouwen of theMissionaries of Africa.“The Israeli army,” reads the text released by Jerusalem Voice of Justice, “is carrying out the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank from their homes since 1967. According to OCHA, already over 40, 000 Palestinians have been displaced, and are currently living without shelter, essential services, and healthcare.”In this context, the signatories of the document recall the Gospel parable of the Good Samaritan, who helps the stranger lying exhausted and abandoned by the roadside after others have passed by and ignored him.“Reverend Martin Luther King,” they recall, “proposed that they passed him by, fearing: what will happen to me if I stop? Rev. King wrote that the Good Samaritan instead asked the question: what will happen to him if I pass him by? Only the Good Samaritan acted in order to save the wounded man’s life.”The authors of the document express fear “that the annexation of Palestinian territories by Israel may be imminent. Increasing use of the names “Judea and Samaria” (instead of the occupied West Bank), exploiting Biblical terminology to confuse present political realities, manifests a desire to wipe Palestine and the Palestinians off the map, claiming we do not exist”.The document finally addresses “those Jews and Christians who have been led to believe that God wants Israel to annex our homeland:We want to state clearly that you have been misguided. All, Palestinians and Israelis, are created in the image and likeness of God. They are all equal in dignity and rights. Furthermore,” add the signatories of the text, “our God is a God of love who abhors violence and loves all God’s children. The Palestinians are your “neighbor”. The inviolable commandment in the word of God we share is this: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27, Roman 13:9). To expel the Palestinians from their homeland is not only an act of violence; it is sacrilege”. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 2/4/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to DBS Bank (Hong Kong) Limited 
    The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or login screens concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
    Issued at HKT 16:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to Dah Sing Bank, Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to Dah Sing Bank, Limited 
    The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or login screens concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
    Issued at HKT 16:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SPECIAL CAMPAIGN FOR DE-ADDICTION IN THE COUNTRY

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 2:11PM by PIB Delhi

     Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) was launched on 15th August 2020 by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment in 272 identified most vulnerable districts and now it has been extended to all districts of the country. NMBA has reached out to the masses and spread awareness about substance use with focus on higher educational Institutions, university campuses and schools by reaching out and identifying dependent population and providing counselling and treatment facilities in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

    Year-wise details of total amount spent on NMBA, which was launched in the year 2020-21 is as below:

    S.No.

    Financial Year

    Fund released under NMBA

    (Rs. in crore)

    1

    2020-21

    13.38

    2

    2021-22

    3.14

    3

    2022-23

    1.50

    4

    2023-24

    6.19

    5

    2024-25

    27.25

    Total

    51.46

     

    The achievements of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan are as follows:

    1. Till now, through the various activities undertaken on-ground, 15.44+ crore people have been sensitized on substance use including 5.17+ crore Youth and 3.27+ crore Women.
    2. Participation of 4.18+ Lakh educational institutions has ensured that the message of the Abhiyaan reaches children and youth of the country.
    3. A strong force of 10,000+ Master Volunteers (MVs) have been identified and trained.
    4. Awareness through official Social Media accounts of the Abhiyaan on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.
    5. NMBA Mobile Application developed to gather and collect the data of NMBA activities and represent on the NMBA Dashboard at district, state and national level.
    6. NMBA Website (http://nmba.dosje.gov.in) provides detailed information and insights to the user/viewer about the Abhiyaan, an online discussion forum, NMBA dashboard, e-pledge.
    7. MoUs have been signed with six Spiritual/Social Service organizations like The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, All World Gayatri Parivar, ISKCON and Shri Ram Chandra Mission to support NMBA and conduct mass awareness activities.
    8. A Toll-free Helpline for de-addiction, 14446, is set up to provide primary counselling and immediate referral services to the persons seeking help through this helpline.
    9. Commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2024, wherein all the States/Districts conducted several activities reaching out to 7.5+ lakh people.
    10. Sportspersons like Olympic Medalist Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Suresh Raina, Ajinkhya Rahane, Sandeep Singh, Savita Poonia has shared messages in support of NMBA to promote Sports as life-skills to ensure a healthy and drug-free lifestyle among youth.
    11. NMBA has entered into 5th year since its launch on 2020. In recognition of this milestone, Department organized a mass pledge/oath taking ceremony across the country. More than 3 crore people from more than 2 lakh educational institutions from across the country took oath and participated in various programmes conducted to celebrate this occasion.

    This information was provided by MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L.VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

    VM

    (Rajya Sabha US Q3652)

    (Release ID: 2117694) Visitor Counter : 49

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DH requires manufacturer to recall unregistered proprietary Chinese medicine for external use (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Department of Health (DH) today (April 2) announced that a licensed manufacturer of proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm), Merika Medicine Factory Ltd (Merika), located on Wong Chuk Yeung Street, Fo Tan, New Territories, had not manufactured a pCm for external use called “Golden Statue Cinnamon Oil & Embrocation” according to the registered particulars and was therefore suspected of illegal sale and possession of unregistered pCm. The DH has immediately requested Merika to recall the batch of product concerned (batch number: 427141) from the market.
     
    During an inspection yesterday (April 1), the DH found that the above-mentioned pCm manufacturer was suspected to have changed one of the active ingredients from Cinnamon Oil to Ceylon Cinnamon Leaf Oil during the production of a registered pCm named “Golden Statue Cinnamon Oil & Embrocation” (Registration number: HKC-02106), without the approval of the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK). According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap.549), since the product did not match the registered particulars of the registered pCm, the batch of the product concerned is therefore an unregistered pCm.
     
    According to section 119 of the Ordinance, no person shall sell, import or possess any pCm unless it is registered. The maximum penalty is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment. The DH will seek advice from the Department of Justice on prosecution matters upon completion of the investigation and will refer the case to the CMCHK for consideration of possible disciplinary action.
     
    According to its label, the above product, in liniment form, is used to expel wind and relieve pain and itching. Although Cinnamon Oil and Ceylon Cinnamon Leaf Oil come from different species of plants within the same family and have similar actions, the safety, efficacy and quality of unregistered pCm had not been assessed. Members of the public who have purchased the batch of the product should stop using it immediately. Those who have used the above product and feel unwell should seek advice from healthcare professionals. As instructed by the DH, Merika is conducting the above-mentioned recall and has set up a hotline (2699 1410) for related enquiries.

    The DH is continuing to investigate the case and will closely monitor the recall. So far, no adverse reports related to the use of the above product have been received by the DH.

         Apart from returning the product to Merika, people who have the batch of the product concerned may submit it to the DH’s Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office on 16/F, AIA Kowloon Tower, Landmark East, 100 How Ming Street, Kwun Tong, during office hours for disposal.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government cautions public on fake information about so-called “Government Investment Platform”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    A government spokesman today (April 2) cautioned the public not to believe in a video circulating online, which appears to be artificially generated and falsely presents the Financial Secretary promoting a so-called “Government Investment Platform”. The Government clarified that the information is totally fictitious and is intended to deceive. The spokesman advises the public not to fall for the scam. The matter has been referred to the Police for further investigation.
     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Combating animal cruelty

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kwok-fan and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
     
    Question:
     
         The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169) has not been updated since its amendment in 2018. The Government proposed in 2019 to amend the Ordinance to step up efforts to combat animal cruelty, but the specific bill has not yet been introduced into this Council to date for scrutiny. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as the Government indicated in its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on February 26 this year that it would complete the law drafting work as soon as possible after collating the views of the stakeholders concerned and introduce the proposed legislative amendments into this Council, of the specific timetable of the relevant work and the direction of the legislative amendments; whether it has encountered difficulties in the course of preparing for the legislative amendments; if so, of the details;
     
    (2) as it is learnt that the community generally considers that the penalties for offences of cruelty to animals under the existing legislation (with the maximum penalty being a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years) fail to reflect the seriousness of some cases (such as cruelty resulting in death and organised cruelty) and to pose sufficient deterrent effect, whether the Government will consider substantially raising the maximum penalty, for example, by increasing the maximum fine to $2,000,000, and raising the maximum term of imprisonment to seven years, so as to satisfy the principle of proportionality;
     
    (3) as the Government has indicated that it will study the introduction of the concept of “Duty of Care” in Cap. 169 mandating persons responsible for animals to take proper care of the welfare of animals, but it is learnt that the community has rather strong and diversified views in this regard, whether the authorities will amend Cap. 169 in phases by raising the maximum penalty in the first place, followed by amendments and enhancements to the Ordinance as appropriate and necessary at the next phase;
     
    (4) as there are views that the existing evidential threshold in Cap. 169 is too high, for example, requiring law enforcement agencies to prove that the perpetrator has the intent of “deliberately causing cruelty to animals” in order to secure a conviction, resulting in a large number of cases not proceeding to judicial proceedings due to insufficient evidence, whether the authorities will draw up dedicated prosecution guidelines so as to lower the evidential threshold and boost the conviction rate; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (5) apart from amending the existing legislation, of the details of the Government’s other specific work in preventing cruelty to animals; whether the authorities will enhance public awareness of animal protection through publicity and educational efforts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Government adopts a multi-pronged approach to curb acts of cruelty to animals. This includes exploring raising penalties for offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169) (the Ordinance) to enhance deterrent effect, taking stringent enforcement actions against illegal acts, and continuing to enhance relevant public awareness through education and promotion activities.
     
         Having consulted the Security Bureau and the Department of Justice, the reply to the question from the Hon Lau Kwok-fan is as follows:
     
    (1) and (3) The Government has been studying amendments to the Ordinance. The directions being explored in the legislative amendment include imposing a positive “Duty of Care” on persons responsible for animals, requiring them to take proper care of the welfare of animals (including diet, environment, health, and behaviour); raising penalties for animal cruelty offences; and enhancing enforcement power, etc. In preparing the bill, it is necessary to consult the relevant stakeholders again on some of the proposals. After collating the views, we will finalise the legislative amendment proposals, implementation arrangement, and law drafting work promptly. Once the work is completed, we will consult the Legislative Council on the proposal.
     
    (2) Currently, any person who does or omits doing any act and causes unnecessary suffering to an animal, may constitute an offence for animal cruelty. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three years.
     
         The Government is studying raises to the penalties for animal cruelty offences to reflect more clearly the gravity of the offence, and to introduce an indictable offence to allow enforcement officers more time to instigate prosecution on complex or serious cruelty cases, in order to further enhance deterrent effect. In finalising the proposal on penalty, the Government will make reference to overseas experience, local penalties for relevant criminal offences, and views of stakeholders, etc.
     
    (4) The existing offences under the Ordinance cover different forms of cruelty to animals, including causes any unnecessary suffering to an animal by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act; neglects to supply animal in confinement with sufficient food and sufficient fresh water; conveys an animal in such a manner as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering, etc. The Ordinance provides that an owner shall be deemed to have permitted cruelty if he shall have failed to exercise reasonable care and supervision in respect of the protection of the animal therefrom, proof of intention to cause cruelty to animals is not required.
     
         In making a decision of whether or not to prosecute in each case, the relevant departments make an objective and professional assessment of the available evidence and applicable law, and strictly act in accordance with the Prosecution Code issued by the Department of Justice. The current practice has worked well and we consider it not necessary to formulate a specific prosecution guideline.
     
         On the other hand, according to the information of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), over 90 per cent of the reports were found to be not related to animal cruelty after investigation, but nuisance or other situations, such as frequent noise from animals or odour from the premises where the animals were kept, and this misled the reporters into thinking that the animals suffered from acts of cruelty.
     
    (5) The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the AFCD and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) jointly implement the Animal Watch Scheme to proactively prevent and detect suspected cases of animal cruelty through multi-agency collaboration. The HKPF would also invite the AFCD and the SPCA officers to provide professional advice at the scene of an animal cruelty case and assist thereafter where necessary.
     
         On publicity and education, through various channels including the Animal Watchers Programme, the “Be a Responsible Pet Owner” thematic website and roving exhibitions, the HKPF and the AFCD are respectively promoting the message of preventing cruelty to animals at the community level and online platforms; encouraging the public to report cases timely and to provide information that aids investigations; as well as raising public awareness of animal welfare.
     
         The AFCD has also launched a series of “Duty of Care” publicity programmes, including the production of posts on social media platforms to share information on how to take proper care of animals, and the recent launch of the “Animal Welfare Project: The Adventures of Meow” promotional video, which aims to educate the public on the content and importance of “Duty of Care” in an interesting manner.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TD urges public to plan their cross-boundary trips in advance during long weekend of Ching Ming Festival holiday

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    TD urges public to plan their cross-boundary trips in advance during long weekend of Ching Ming Festival holiday 
    For public transport services, the TD has liaised with local and cross-boundary public transport services operators to strengthen their services during the long weekend. The waiting time for public transport services, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus), may be longer. Passengers are encouraged to make their journeys during non-peak hours, observe order and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of the public transport service operators concerned. Passengers of cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
     
    Motorists are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port from April 4 to 6 to allow smooth access of public transport vehicles to the above control points. Cross-boundary private cars may need to queue up for crossing the BCPs. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the road. They are also advised to be patient in case of traffic congestion and follow the instructions of on-site Police.

    For the HZMB, in order to plan their journey ahead, the public can make use of the TD’s HKeMobility mobile application to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai port through the WeChat official accounts “hzmbzhport” or “zhuhaifabu” (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/ 
    The TD’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will continue to operate 24 hours to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of different districts including various BCPs and major stations. The TD will disseminate the latest traffic information through various channels. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio, television broadcasts, and HKeMobility.
    Issued at HKT 12:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ13: Development of Hong Kong athletes in Mainland

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Following is a question by the Hon Stanley Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):
     
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that Hong Kong athletes have all along been unable to be certified for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes because of their status as Hong Kong citizens, even though they won championships in sports competitions held in the Mainland. In view of this, the Administrative Measures for Technical Grades of Athletes (the Administrative Measures) was promulgated by our country in March last year to point out clearly that athletes from Hong Kong, the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR) and Taiwan may be awarded technical grade titles when they participate in national competitions and provincial competitions. The Administrative Measures have been implemented since January 1 this year to ensure that Hong Kong athletes and Mainland athletes are entitled to the same treatment. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland, with a tabulated breakdown by province;
     
    (2) whether it knows the specific process through which Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland are certified for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes; whether the process is handled by the General Administration of Sport of China in a centralised manner, or there is a designated organisation in Hong Kong which is responsible for handling the relevant certification for them; if there is such a designated organisation, of the organisation;
     
    (3) as the Administrative Measures point out that prior consent should be obtained from the relevant National Sports Associations (NSAs) in Hong Kong and Macao SAR for awarding technical grade titles to their registered athletes, whether it has compiled statistics on the current number of athletes registered with NSAs in Hong Kong who are awarded the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles upon obtaining consents from their relevant NSAs; whether there are cases in which NSAs did not give consents for their athletes to acquire the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles; if so, of the details;
     
    (4) whether it knows the mechanism for Hong Kong athletes pursuing development in the Mainland without registration with the relevant NSAs in Hong Kong who are eligible to be certified under the standards for technical grades of athletes to obtain certification for acquiring the technical grade titles awarded to Mainland athletes; and
     
    (5) to facilitate the professional development of Hong Kong athletes in the Mainland, whether the Government will set a timetable for regular review of the existing process through which Hong Kong athletes are certified for acquiring the Mainland athletes’ technical grade titles, and streamline the relevant procedures in a timely manner?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    My consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Stanley Ng is as follows:
     
    The General Administration of Sport of China (GASC) promulgated the “the Administrative Measures for Technical Grades of Athletes” (the Administrative Measures) in 2014 to award athletes with different technical grade titles after attaining specific results in competitions. In order of priority, the technical grade titles are namely International Elite Athlete, Elite Athlete, Grade One Athlete, Grade Two Athlete and Grade Three Athlete.
     
    To promote the integration of Hong Kong into national development, the GASC promulgated the “Notice by the General Office of GASC on the Work of Awarding the Technical Grade Titles to Athletes from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR and Taiwan” in 2021, which explicitly indicated that it accepts Hong Kong athletes’ applications for award of the technical grade titles. For Hong Kong athletes who wish to be awarded the technical grade titles, they are required to submit written applications. In addition to submitting proof of results, the applications should be endorsed by the relevant National Sports Associations (NSAs) to which they belong.  
     
    Subsequently, having communicated with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and the sports sector to understand the situation, the GASC has revised the the Administrative Measures to simplify the application procedures. The GASC promulgated the amended Administrative Measures on March 14, 2024.
     
    Article 15 of the amended Administrative Measures specifies that Hong Kong athletes can be awarded the technical grade titles directly according to their results in national and provincial competitions, without having to submit written applications. The awarding body (e.g. the relevant sports centres or associations) may publicise the proposed technical grade titles directly based on the competition results for a period of five working days. The athletes will be awarded the respective technical grade titles if there is no objection within the period.
     
    The amended Administrative Measures also indicate that for Hong Kong athletes who are registered with specific NSAs, they should obtain endorsement from the relevant NSAs before participating in competitions (i.e. providing a letter of consent from the relevant NSAs when participating in the competitions). In that way, the athletes can be awarded the technical grade titles based on their competition results after the public announcement period. Hong Kong athletes who are not registered with specific NSAs are not required to seek endorsement from relevant NSAs before they are awarded the technical grade titles. The amended Administrative Measures have come into effect from January 1, 2025.
     
    The CSTB does not have the relevant information about the number of Hong Kong athletes currently developing in the Mainland, the number of NSA-registered Hong Kong athletes who have been awarded the technical grade titles with endorsement of the relevant NSAs, and the cases not being endorsed by the relevant NSAs.
     
    The Hong Kong SAR Government encourages and supports Hong Kong athletes and NSAs to enhance exchange and co-operation with athletes and associations of various sports from different provinces and cities in the Mainland. The amended Administrative Measures, which came into effect on January 1, 2025, facilitate the award of the technical grade titles to Hong Kong athletes. The amended Administrative Measures also promote development opportunities of Hong Kong athletes in the Mainland, and enhance the integrated development of Hong Kong and the Mainland. The CSTB will continue to maintain communication with the GASC on the relevant arrangements.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ16: Employees’ compensation insurance

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ16: Employees’ compensation insurance 
    Question:
     
         Regarding employees’ compensation insurance (commonly known as labour insurance), will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of cases recorded by the Labour Department (LD) in which employees died as a result of accidents arising out of and in the course their employment in each of the past seven years and this year to date, together with a breakdown by industry;
     
    (2) among the cases mentioned in (1), ︀of the number of cases in which employers were prosecuted by the authorities for failing to take out labour insurance policies for their employees as required under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282); among such prosecuted cases, ︀of the following information on each of the convicted cases: (i) the date of the accident, (ii) the industry and occupation to which the workers involved belonged, (iii) the date on which the judgment was handed down by the court and (iv) the penalties imposed;
     
    (3) in respect of the penalties imposed on the convicted cases mentioned in (2), whether the authorities have applied for reviews or appeals; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (4) given that under the Employees Compensation Assistance Ordinance (Cap. 365), any employer who contravenes the requirements of Cap. ‍282 on taking out labour insurance policies shall be liable to pay a surcharge to the Employees Compensation Assistance Fund Board, of the highest, lowest and average amounts of surcharge paid by the employers in the convicted cases mentioned in (2);
     
    (5) of the respective numbers of insurance applications from the employers of the 22 ‍high-‍risk industries specified under the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme (ECIRS) which were received, approved and rejected by the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau Limited in each of the past seven years and this year to date, ︀as well as the number of employees involved in the approved applications, ︀together with a breakdown by industry; the main reasons for rejecting such applications under the Scheme;
     
    (6) as it is learnt that the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Council and the LD have jointly launched the OSH Star Enterprise – Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition Safety Accreditation Scheme (the Accreditation Scheme) to assist the insurance industry in considering offering discounts on labour insurance premium under ECIRS to enterprises satisfying the safety accreditations, of the number of enterprises which have (i) applied, (ii) have been approved and (iii) have been rejected to participate in the Accreditation Scheme in each of the past seven years and this year to date, and set out in the table below a breakdown by type of enterprise (i.e. (I) small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and (II) ‍non-SMEs) and business nature of enterprise (i.e. (a) erection, dismantling and use of truss-out bamboo scaffolds, (b) repair to external walls or pipings, (c) air-conditioning works and (d) interior fitting-out works); the main reasons for rejecting the applications under the Scheme;

    Type of
    enterprisenature of
    enterprise(7) whether it has compiled statistics on the percentage of the number of enterprises approved under the Accreditation Scheme in the total number of enterprises of the same business nature in Hong Kong at present, together with a tabulated breakdown by type of enterprise (i.e. (I) SMEs and (II) non-SMEs) and business nature of enterprise (i.e. (a) erection, dismantling and use of truss-out bamboo scaffolds, (b) repair to external walls or pipings, (c) air-conditioning works and (d) ‍interior fitting-out works); of the measures in place to step up publicity and promotion of the Accreditation Scheme, so as to encourage more enterprises to participate in the Scheme; and

    (8) as there are views that the existing penalties for not taking out labour insurance policies are too light, and some employers may be prompted to take the risk of not taking out labour insurance policies for their employees as required by the law, whether the authorities will consider amending Cap. 282 to raise the relevant penalties, so as to enhance the deterrent effect; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         My reply to the Hon Chau Siu-chung’s question is as follows:
     
    (1) From 2018 to February 2025, the numbers of fatal cases reported under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (ECO) (Cap. 282) and received by the Labour Department (LD) each year, with a breakdown by industry, are at Annex 1.
     
    (2) Among the cases mentioned in (1), 14 employers were prosecuted by the LD for failing to take out employees’ compensation insurance (EC insurance) for their employees as required by the ECO. All the 14 cases were convicted. The details are at Annex 2.
     
    (3) In accordance with the Prosecution Code of the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Secretary for Justice may apply to the court in exceptional cases for the review of a sentence on the basis that it has proceeded on an error of law or of principle or that it is manifestly inadequate or excessive. In general, apart from the factors such as the circumstances of a case, the maximum penalty of an offence and the level of sentence imposed on the offence in the past, the court will also consider a defendant’s guilty plea and mitigations when sentencing. The LD will examine the sentence imposed by the court on each case. If the sentence of an individual case is manifestly inadequate or excessive, or has proceeded on an error of law or of principle, the LD will request the DoJ to consider applying for a review of the sentence. In line with the above principles, the LD has not applied for the review or appeal against the sentence of the convicted cases mentioned in (2). 
    (5) The Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme (ECIRS) serves as a market of last resort to assist employers who cannot procure the EC insurance in the market, with a view to ensuring that employers can acquire the EC insurance. The applications received and approved by the Employees’ Compensation Insurance Residual Scheme Bureau Limited (ECIRSB) from 2018 to February 2025, with a breakdown by the High Risk Groups, are at Annex 3. During the period, the ECIRSB did not reject any applications submitted by employers.
     
    (6) The LD has collaborated with the Occupational Safety and Health Council (OSHC) to launch the OSH Star Enterprise – Repair, Maintenance, Alteration and Addition (RMAA) Safety Accreditation Scheme (Accreditation Scheme) to provide subsidies to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the RMAA sector for purchasing fall prevention devices, assisting them in establishing a safety management system, and offering training on work-at-height safety as well as conducting safety audits. We adopt a multi-pronged approach to enhance the safety standard of relevant enterprises and assist users in identifying those RMAA enterprises with recognised safety standards. According to the OSHC, the number of applications for the Accreditation Scheme and the number of Star Enterprises accredited in the past seven years (up to March 20, 2025) are at Annex 4.
     
         As OSHC has enhanced the OSH Star Enterprise List under the Accreditation Scheme since September 2024 and added the category of “nature of business” (including erection and dismantling of truss-out scaffolding works, repair of external wall and pipe works, air-conditioning works and interior renovation works) to the list, a breakdown by nature of business of the enterprises before the date of enhancement is not available. 
     
         The number of Star Enterprises accredited in 2024-2025 (as at March 20, 2025) is eight. A breakdown of their business nature (Note) is as follows:
     

    Erection and dismantling of truss-out scaffolding works     At present, there are 66 SME Star Enterprises under the Accreditation Scheme and their business nature (Note) is categorised as follows:
     

    Erection and dismantling of truss-out scaffolding worksNote: Accredited Star Enterprise may offer more than one type of business.

    (7) The OSHC does not keep statistics on the percentage of the number of accredited Star Enterprises among the total number of enterprises of the same business nature in Hong Kong, and it does not have a breakdown of the figures by the nature of business of the enterprises.
     
         To enhance the awareness of the RMAA industry and the community at large on the Accreditation Scheme, the LD and the OSHC have been publicising and promoting the Accreditation Scheme through various channels, including promotion on mass media such as television, radio and e-‍newspapers; dissemination of video clips, text and graphic information through social media; and collaboration with the Home Affairs Department and District Councils to promote the Accreditation Scheme to property owners, property management companies, etc, and to educate them on the key points and importance of choosing suitable scaffolding and the RMAA contractors. For newly completed public housing estates and buildings with more the RMAA works, the LD and the OSHC, in collaboration with trade unions, regularly set up information kiosks in the districts to publicise and promote the Accreditation Scheme to community members, owners’ corporations and local organisations. In addition, more than 1 300 organisations have signed the Charter on Preferential Appointment of OSH Star Enterprise, pledging to give priority to Star Enterprises in carrying out RMAA works, so as to encourage more RMAA enterprises to upgrade their safety standards through market force.
     
    (8) In accordance with section 40 of the ECO, no employer shall employ any employee in any employment unless there is in force a policy of insurance to cover his liabilities under the ECO and common law. Employers failing to comply with the ECO to secure an insurance cover are liable to prosecution and, upon conviction, to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years. Among the past prosecution cases, there have been cases where the convicted employers were sentenced to imprisonment or with higher levels of fines. 
         The LD will continue to monitor employers’ compliance with the requirement of taking out EC insurance and will consider whether to amend the relevant penalties under the ECO as and when required.
    Issued at HKT 11:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointment of Commissioner of Police (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, announced today (April 2) that in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Basic Law, the Central People’s Government, upon his nomination and recommendation, approved the appointment of Mr Chow Yat-ming, Joe, formerly Deputy Commissioner of Police, as Commissioner of Police and the removal of Mr Siu Chak-yee from the post of Commissioner of Police. Mr Siu proceeded on pre-retirement leave today after serving the Hong Kong Police Force for 36 years.
     
    Commenting on the appointment of Mr Chow, Mr Lee said, “Mr Chow has served in the Hong Kong Police Force for almost 30 years and has extensive experience in criminal investigation, intelligence gathering, policy-making as well as personnel management. He has a distinguished performance and possesses proven leadership skills. I am confident that he will capably lead the Police Force in meeting the challenges ahead.”
     
    Speaking on the retirement of Mr Siu, Mr Lee said, “Since taking up the appointment as Commissioner of Police in June 2021, Mr Siu has made commendable efforts in maintaining Hong Kong as one of the safest cities in the world. He has demonstrated unswerving dedication and determination to safeguarding Hong Kong and upholding the rule of law in dealing with the social unrest. During his tenure, he has also been devoted to introducing strong and effective measures to prevent deception cases and combat criminal activities. Under his eminent leadership, the Police Force has continued to excel as a world-class professional law enforcement agency. On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, I convey my heartfelt appreciation to Mr Siu for his contribution to the HKSAR and wish him a happy retirement.”
     
    The following are biographical notes of Mr Siu and Mr Chow:
     
    Mr Siu Chak-yee
    ——————
     
    Mr Siu joined the Hong Kong Police Force in December 1988 as a Probationary Inspector. He was promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police in 2013, Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2017 and Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2018. He was appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Police in 2019 and took up the Commissioner of Police post in June 2021.
     
    Mr Siu has held a variety of posts during his 36 years of service in the Police Force, responsible for crime investigations, security and operations as well as management work. He was District Commander of Kowloon City District and Chief Superintendent (Human Resources Branch) between 2013 and 2017. He was Assistant Commissioner of Police (Personnel) from January 2017 and took up the post of Director of Operations in November 2018. He served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) between November 2019 and June 2021. He was appointed as Commissioner of Police in June 2021.
     
    During his career in the Police Force, Mr Siu has received many awards. He was awarded five Commanding Officer’s Commendations between 1995 and 2006; Commissioner’s Commendation in 2006; Hong Kong Police Long Service Medal in 2006 with the first, second and third clasps in 2013, 2018 and 2021 respectively; Hong Kong Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2016 and Hong Kong Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2021; Hong Kong Police TIDERIDER Medal in 2020 and the Medal for Safeguarding National Security in 2024.
     
    Mr Chow Yat-ming, Joe
    —————
     
    Mr Chow joined the Hong Kong Police Force in November 1995 as a Probationary Inspector. He was promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police in 2016, Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2020 and Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police in 2021. He was appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Police in 2022.
     
    Mr Chow has served in various posts in the Police Force, responsible for criminal investigation, intelligence gathering, policy-making as well as personnel management. He served as the Commander of Criminal Intelligence Bureau, District Commander of Yau Tsim District and the Deputy Regional Commander of Kowloon West Region between 2016 and 2020. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police in February 2020 and took charge of the Operations Wing and later the Personnel Wing. He became the Director of Personnel and Training in January 2021 and took up the office of the Director of Crime and Security in August 2021. He was appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Management) in April 2022 and assumed the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in August 2023.
    ​
    During his career in the Police Force, Mr Chow has received a number of awards. He was awarded Hong Kong Police Long Service Medal in 2013 with the first clasp in 2020; Chief Executive’s Commendation for Government/Public Service and Hong Kong Police TIDERIDER Medal in 2020; and Hong Kong Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2021.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: UK: TFL block Amnesty adverts to hide warnings over crime-predicting technology

    Source: Amnesty International –

     Amnesty advert alerts residents of South London to the problematic predictive policing happening in their communities  

    Transport for London rejected the advert, stating ‘it might bring other members of the Greater London Authority Group (GLA) into disrepute’  

    Research revealed that Met Police (a member of the GLA Group) attempt to predict the future by labelling people as ‘suspects’ without them ever having offended or committed a crime     

    The Met had the highest rate of stop and search encounters for people of ‘black ethnic appearance’ per 1,000 population of any ethnic group       

    ‘Transport for London, and its Chair Mayor Sadiq Khan, are in danger of being complicit in a cover up of harmful Met Police crime predicting technology’ – Sacha Deshmukh   

    Amnesty International UK has sharply criticised Transport for London (TFL) for preventing them from displaying adverts that would inform South London residents that ‘predictive policing’ is occurring on their streets.   

    Amnesty had booked advertising space in Elephant and Castle tube station highlighting the findings of their new research which exposed the prevalence of racial profiling technology and its use by police forces across the UK.    

    The aim was to alert the public to Amnesty’s damning conclusions in their 120 – page report Automated Racism – How police data and algorithms code discrimination into policing’ which exposes the grave dangers to society from ‘predictive policing’ systems and technology used across almost three quarters of the UK’s police forces.       

    This is the first report to demonstrate how these systems are in flagrant breach of the UK’s national and international human rights obligations.        

    Amnesty found that at least 33 police forces – including the Metropolitan police and British Transport police – across the UK have used predictive profiling or risk prediction systems. Of these forces, 32 have used geographic crime prediction, profiling, or risk prediction tools, and 11 forces have used individual prediction, profiling, or risk prediction tools.    

    Transport for London rejected the adverts, stating ’it might bring other members of the GLA Group into disrepute’ which would include the Mayor’s office of crime and policing.    

    Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:   

    “Transport for London and its Chair Mayor Sadiq Khan are in danger of being complicit in a cover up by preventing police transparency and community awareness about harmful crime predicting technology.   

    “Protecting members of the GLA, such as the Mayor’s office of crime and policing, just creates more of a shroud of secrecy. A shocking lack of transparency already exists about these crime-predicting technologies, and public policing should be open to critique and accountability.    

    “The use of predictive policing tools violates human rights. The evidence that this technology keeps us safe is just not there; the evidence that it violates our fundamental rights is clear as day. We are all much more than computer-generated risk scores.        

    “These technologies have consequences. The future they are creating is one where technology decides that our neighbours are criminals, purely based on the colour of their skin or their socio-economic background.         

    “These tools to ‘predict crime’ harm us all by treating entire communities as potential criminals, making society more racist and unfair.     

    “TFL have made the wrong call in preventing us from advertising, and we are calling on the Mayor of London to reverse it.” 

    Racist and failing systems in London     

    Risk Terrain Monitoring (RTM) is a predictive policing system that processes police acquired data to generate a location-based risk score.      

    An initial period of RTM-influenced policing targeted the north of the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, commencing in September 2020. Between December 2020 and October 2021, Lambeth had the second-highest volume of stop and searches of all London boroughs. In the same period, people of ‘black ethnic appearance’ (as defined by the Metropolitan Police Service) had the highest rate of stop and search encounters per 1,000 population of any ethnic group: they were stopped and searched more than four times than people of white ethnic appearance. Eighty per cent of these stops and searches resulted in no further action. In the same period, Lambeth had the second highest volume of police uses of force in all London boroughs, and police used force most against people recorded as ‘black or black British’.         

    In Southwark in the year ending March 2021, Black people were stopped and searched 3.3 times more than white people. Police used force against people in Southwark at least 8,924 times between September 2020 and September 2021, and 45 per cent of those times, it was against ‘black or black British’ people.   

    The Metropolitan Police Service’s Violence Harm Assessment profiles people based on intelligence reports and about people who are ‘suspects’, and an individual can be profiled without ever having offended or committed a crime.   

    The force has said that it will not inform any member of the public that they feature on the Violence Harm Assessment. It also says that data subject access requests from individuals asking if they are on the Violence Harm Assessment list will be considered ‘on a case-by-case basis against the statutory exemptions and the level of risk the individual presents and risks of notification to the individual’.     

    The Metropolitan Police Service has itself noted that issues with the Violence Harm Assessment include: the adultification of children; the Rationale for Suspect over Convictions and how using ‘suspect’ could risk racial disproportionality if wrongly named; and that this leads to a ‘possibility of disproportionality due to some communities/areas being “over policed” leading to greater reports’.    

    Human rights violations exposed       

    Racial profiling: The use of these systems by police results in, directly and indirectly, racial profiling and the disproportionate targeting of Black and racialised people and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. This, in turn, leads to their increased criminalisation, punishment, and exposure to violent policing.     

    There is no right to a fair trial: Predictive systems target individuals and groups before they have actually committed an offense, which risks infringing on the presumption of innocence and the right to a fair trial.      

    Mass surveillance:  This is indiscriminate and can never be proportionate interference with the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of association and of peaceful assembly.      

    Chilling effect: Individuals who live in areas targeted by predictive policing will likely seek to avoid those areas, resulting in a chilling effect. Participants in the Essex discussion group stated that if police were targeting specific areas, they would likely avoid those areas.  

    Recommendations   

         Amnesty is calling for:     

    • Accountability obligations, including a right and a clear forum to challenge a predictive, profiling, or similar decision or consequences leading from such a decision.  

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union government to establish 440 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:02PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey informed in Rajya Sabha today that the Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) was started in the year 2018-19 to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to the tribal children in their own environment.

    Under the new scheme, Government decided to establish 440 EMRSs, one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). 288 EMRS schools were initially funded under Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, which are being upgraded as per the new model.

    Accordingly, Ministry has set the target to set up total of 728 EMRSs benefiting around 3.5 lakh ST students across the country. To ensure quality education and holistic development for tribal students following facilities are being provided in EMRSs: –

    Educational Infrastructure:

      • Well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids.
      • Science and computer laboratories.
      • Libraries with diverse learning resources.
    2. Accommodation and Amenities:
      • Residential facilities for students and staff.
      • Separate hostels for boys and girls with essential amenities like bedding, furniture, and hygiene facilities.

         3.    Sports and Extracurricular Facilities:

    • Playgrounds and sports equipment.
      • Facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art, and sports
    1. Health and Nutrition:
      • Regular health check-ups and medical facilities.
    1. IT and Digital Learning:
      • Smart classrooms for digital education.
      • Computer labs with internet access.
    1. Vocational Training:
      • Skill development and vocational training programs to enhance employability.

     

    Further, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has been established as an autonomous body under this Ministry to manage and implement scheme of EMRS. NESTS has organized Principals’ Conclave bringing together all Principals of EMRSs from across the country for orientation in the areas of academic management, mental health, safety, HR matters etc. and the conclave enriched their knowledge and professional skills. NESTS has also empowered State societies to impart induction training to Teacher’s towards residential culture and academic transactions.

     

    The Ministry is implementing several initiatives in collaboration with other government bodies to provide tribal students with access to digital and skill-based education while maintaining the traditional curriculum.  These initiatives include:

     

    i)    Establishment of Smart classrooms equipped with digital boards in partnership with ERNET, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to enhance digital learning in tribal schools.

    ii)    Setting-up of 400 Skill Labs in 200 EMRSs in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) to provide hands-on vocational training and industry-relevant skills to students.

    iii)     Provision of online coaching sessions for IIT-JEE and NEET, along with recorded lectures tailored for Class 11 and 12 students, in collaboration with PACE- IIT & Medical. Additionally, special classes and focused training modules are provided to support both high-performing and academically weaker students.

    iv)     Allocation of a dedicated DTH channel by NCERT to enhance both curricular and extracurricular learning, including vocational education, ensuring wider accessibility for students in remote areas.

    Additionally, to preserve and promote traditional curricula, regional language teachers have been recruited to support language learning and cultural continuity.

    Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing following Scholarship Schemes to promote and encourage basic and higher education amongst ST population: –

    1.  
    • Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (For Class IX and X)
    • Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (For Class XI and above)
    • National Scholarship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students (earlier known as Top Class Scholarship Scheme): Scholarship is provided for pursuing Graduate/Post Graduate courses in the 265 top-class Government and Non-Government Institutes in professional fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law etc.
    • National Fellowship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students: Scholarship to meritorious ST students for pursuing M. Phil or Ph.D. in India
    • National Overseas Scholarship for ST students: Scholarships are given to the meritorious Schedule Tribe (ST) students for pursuing higher education abroad. Pre and Post matric Scholarships scheme are open ended and every ST student with income up to 2.5 lakh can take benefit of these schemes.

    Additionally, to encourage students to pursue higher studies, instructions have been issued to state societies to cover the application fees for national-level entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE, CLAT, etc., for students studying in Class XII in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). The cost of these application fees is to be borne by the respective State EMRS Societies, thereby reducing the financial burden on students and their families.

    ******

    RN/PIB

     

    (Release ID: 2117788) Visitor Counter : 9

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Parliamentary Affairs Ministry organizes Youth Parliament Competitions in schools, colleges and universities throughout the country

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 3:31PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs organizes the following Youth Parliament Competitions in schools, colleges and universities throughout the country in coordination with the respective stakeholder organizations:

    1. Youth Parliament Competition for schools under the Directorate of Education of Govt. of NCT of Delhi and Department of Education of New Delhi Municipal Council;
    2. National Youth Parliament Competition for Kendriya Vidyalayas ;
    3. National Youth Parliament Competition for Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas; and
    4. National Youth Parliament Competition for Universities/Colleges.

    In last three years, 7 such Youth Parliament Competitions were organized.

    The participating educational institutions are nominated by their stakeholder organizations as per their organizational structures and not as per state-wise/city-wise/town-wise.

    In addition to the above, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs also provides financial assistance to States/UTs for organizing Youth Parliament Competitions as per the guidelines of the Ministry, subject to receiving of the claims from them.

     The Ministry has also introduced a web-portal of National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) to increase the outreach of Youth Parliament to hitherto untouched sections and corners of the country. All the citizens of the country can participate in the Youth Parliament programme of the Ministry through the web-portal. 

    During the last three years, a total of ₹ 49,34,599 has been spent on various activities in connection with Youth Parliament at school level. Out of this amount, financial assistance of ₹ 8,78,319, ₹ 2,99,769, and ₹ 2,00,000 was reimbursed to the states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh respectively, for conducting Youth Parliament in their states. There is no dedicated state-wise allocation of funds for Youth Parliament in the Ministry.

    There is no plan under consideration of the Ministry to encourage youth participation in legislative processes and parliamentary affairs apart from National Youth Parliament (NYP) and internships.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice; Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

    ***

    SS/ISA

    (Release ID: 2117762) Visitor Counter : 41

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Arrests – Aggravated burglary – Palmerston

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two male youths relation to an aggravated burglary in Palmerston this morning.

    Earlier today, police received intelligence that the alleged offenders were at an address in Moulden.

    Serious Crime, Strike Force Trident and the Fugitive Task Force attended the location and arrested two males aged 13 and 14.

    Both offenders remain in police custody with charges expected to follow.

    The stolen motor vehicle has since been located abandoned in Woodroffe.

    Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Alicia Harvey said, “The actions of these individuals are despicable.

    “I would like to commend the swift actions of all those involved in these arrests.

    “We will continue to ensure those who engage in criminal behaviour are held accountable and are brought before the courts.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Aggravated burglary – Palmerston

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information after an aggravated burglary occurred in Palmerston this morning.

    Around 7am, police received reports of an unlawful entry at an address on Star Court, Woodroffe.

    A neighbour at a nearby residence was alerted by the sound of items smashing and later attended the home, where they located a 71-year-old male on the ground injured.

    It is alleged that two offenders assaulted the victim with an edged weapon, before stealing his grey Ford Territory station wagon.

    Police and St John Ambulance attended, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious but stable condition where he remains for treatment.

    A crime scene has been established, and investigations are ongoing.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number P25089324. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Aggravated assaults – Casuarina

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested two men after multiple aggravated assaults in Casuarina yesterday.

    Around 2:45pm, police received reports that two men, aged 45 and 33, had each produced edged weapons during an altercation at the bus exchange.

    It is alleged the pair ran into a nearby alley, chased by serval unknown persons.

    During this time, it is alleged the 45-year-old stabbed a 27-year-old man in the upper chest before the 33-year-old man stabbed a 14-year-old female in the side of her chest.

    Transit Security Officers apprehended the 33-year-old man while Police Officers arrested the 45-year-old man a short time later.

    Both men remain in custody and are expected to be charged at a later time.

    Both the 27 and 14-year-old victims were conveyed to hospital in stable conditions.

    A crime scene was established and detectives from Serious Crime are investigating the assaults.

    Police are seeking assistance from members of the public who witnessed the alleged assaults. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is urged to notify police on 131 444 or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Please quote reference number 25088671.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Operation Shanela continues to make strides 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Operation Shanela continues to register commendable progress in the fight against crime with 13 633 suspects having been arrested through the multidisciplinary operation.

    “Through high visibility patrols, stop and searches and the tracing of wanted suspects, police are hard at work in stamping the authority of the state,” the South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement.

    A number of takedowns and major drug busts were recorded which include the confiscation of R50 million worth of crystal meth during an intelligence driven operation in Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape.

    Another major success was the interception of a truck and vehicle car hijacking syndicate in which four suspects were arrested. In this case, numerous truck trailers, vehicle parts, heavy-duty machinery, forklifts, and copper plates all valued at R10 million were discovered at a farm in Ventersdorp in the North West.

    Additionally, 145 stolen sheep were recovered in Qumbu within 24 hours after they were stolen during a farm attack while also 18 000 units of Abalone to the value of R15 million was also seized in the Eastern Cape.

    Other arrests made across the country include the arrest of 2 192 wanted suspects for crimes such as murder and attempted murder. A total 137 suspects were arrested for murder, with a majority of these suspects being arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (32).

    Additionally, 259 suspects were arrested for rape, 95 of the arrests were made in KwaZulu-Natal and  220 drug dealers were arrested in the past week with the majority of these suspects arrested in the Western Cape (57).

    “[A total] 113 suspects were arrested for being in the illegal possession of firearms, with the majority of these suspects were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal (36),” said the SAPS adding that the 1072 illegal foreign nationals were also arrested.

    The police also recovered 131 firearms and 1510 rounds of ammunition that were confiscated.

    Additionally, a joint operation conducted by Gauteng Counterfeit Unit, Vispol, Commercial Crime unit, Brand Protectors, and border police resulted in the seizure of counterfeit and illicit goods including clothing, consumables, toys and cellphone accessories worth over R35 million.

    “Police will continue with their operations by asserting the authority of the state to ensure the safety and security of all South Africans and visitors to the country,” said the SAPS. –SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: FCS unit deployed to boost Matatiele case 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Wednesday, April 2, 2025

    The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, has tasked the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Investigations (FCS) unit to bolster and oversee the ongoing investigation into the alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl in Matatiele.

    The FCS unit has 176 units across the country and its investigators are responsible for investigating gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) related cases, electronic crimes as well as sexual offences cases involving women, children and vulnerable groups.

    In a statement on Tuesday, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said that the head of the FSC, Major General Mmantsheke Lekhele, was meeting with the investigating team to ensure due diligence is conducted in this case and that the chain of evidence was properly preserved.

    On Saturday, the Ministry of Police assured members of the public that law enforcement is actively investigating two incidences involving the rape of minors in the Eastern Cape.

    This comes after the Ministry took note of calls on various social media platforms regarding the tragic violation of the two minors in two separate incidences in October and November last year.

    READ | Law enforcement is attending to Eastern Cape rape cases

    In both incidences, the suspects have been identified and were arrested.

    In the statement on Tuesday, the police said the Major Gen Lekhele will meet with persons of interests and key stakeholders such as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to ensure justice and the finalisation of the matter.

    “Bringing criminals to book and putting perpetrators of crime behind bars remains a key priority for the SAPS. The SAPS assures the nation that justice will prevail and those that are found to be guilty of any offence will be brought to book,” said the police.

    It further added that a comprehensive report will follow on conclusion of the work of the team led by Component Head for the FCS.

    “The SAPS also calls for responsible social media reporting on this sensitive matter,” it said. –SAnews.gov.za 
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Miscellaneous amendments proposed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government will introduce the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, which proposes miscellaneous amendments to various statutes, in the Legislative Council on April 16.

    The bill amends outdated references including “Crown”, “Governor”, “Secretary of State”, “Her Majesty”, “overseas”, “country” and “country or territory”, as well as references to UK legislation, in various enactments.

    It also updates or amends certain texts, references and terminology in specific ordinances and subsidiary legislation.

    Moreover, the bill repeals a number of enactments, or provisions or references in others, which have become obsolete, and makes miscellaneous minor, or technical, amendments to some enactments.

    The Department of Justice said the proposed amendments mainly arise from the Systematic Review of Statutory Laws of Hong Kong.

    It added that the amendments included are largely minor, technical and non-controversial but are useful for the purpose of updating or improving legislation.

    In respect of the proposed amendments, the department said no objections have been received from stakeholders consulted.

    The department issued an information paper to the LegCo Panel on Administration of Justice & Legal Services in February, briefing members of the panel on the major proposals to be included in the bill.

    The bill will be published in the Government Gazette tomorrow.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: STATUS OF THE UMBRELLA SCHEME ON WOMEN’S SAFETY

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing six projects under Umbrella Scheme for “Safety of Women” in collaboration with States and Union Territories for ensuring timely intervention and investigation in cases of crime against women and enhanced efficiency in investigation and crime prevention in such matters. Details of the project are as under-

      • 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS)
      • Upgradation of Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories, including setting up of a National Forensic Data Centre
      • Strengthening of DNA Analysis, Cyber Forensic capacities in State Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs)
      • Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children
      • Capacity building and training of investigators and prosecutors in handling sexual assault cases against women and children
      • Women Help Desk & Anti-human Trafficking Units

    The Ministry of Home Affairs is funding for the setup of Women Help Desks (WHDs) in police stations, to improve women’s access to police services. So far, 14,658 WHDs are operational across all States and UTs, out of which 13,743 WHDs are led by women officers. Additionally, 827 Anti- Human   Trafficking   Units   (AHTUs)   have   been   established   across   all States/UTs. The Cyber Crime Prevention against Women & Children project is implemented in all States and UTs. So far, Cyber Forensic Training Laboratories have been setup in 33 States/UTs and over 24,624 officials including police officers, judges and prosecutors have been trained. A portal for reporting cyber-crime against women and children is also active. Under the Nirbhaya fund, projects worth ₹245.29 crore have been approved for enhancing DNA and Cyber Forensic capabilities in State Forensic Labs across 30 States/UTs.    DNA   Analysis facility   has   been  established in Chandigarh. Six National Cyber Forensic Labs, along with a National Forensic   Data   Centre   has   been   approved.   34,626   officials   including Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers have been trained on DNA evidence management     and the use of Sexual Assault

    Evidence Collection Kits. Also, 18,020 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits has been distributed to States/UTs.

    The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) is operational across all 36 States/UTs. The upgraded ERSS (2.0) enhances emergency services with improved data centers, wider district coverage, higher call capacity, vehicle tracking, and disaster recovery. Disaster Recovery facilities are functional at C-DAC centers in Noida and Thiruvananthapuram. ERSS is now integrated with other emergency helplines such as Railway Helpline, Women Helpline, Child Helpline, and Disaster Response services.

    This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

    ***

    RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2117800) Visitor Counter : 72

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: BHARATPOL PORTAL

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:21PM by PIB Delhi

    BHARATPOL Portal has been launched by Shri Amit Shah, Hon’ble Union Home Minister of India on 07.01.2025 and it has already started receiving requests for publication of INTERPOL Notices and requests for assistance in criminal matters through Interpol References from state/ central law enforcement agencies. All INTERPOL Liaison Officers (ILOs) of all state/ central law enforcement agencies are connected with CBI and all Unit Officers (UOs) of state/ central law enforcement agencies are connected with respective ILOs through connect module of BHARATPOL Portal. Login credentials of ILOs are being created by CBI.

    Requests for assistance received from other member countries through INTERPOL Channels are being sent through Broadcast module to respective law enforcement agencies. BHARATPOL Portal has streamlined requests for publication of INTERPOL Notices and requests for assistance in criminal matters as such requests are being received on standardized format through INTERPOL Notices module and INTERPOL References module of the BHARATPOL Portal. Also, relevant documents of INTERPOL and capacity building resources have been uploaded on Resources module of BHARATPOL Portal which can be accessed by all ILOs/UOs (INTERPOL Liaison Officers/Unit Officers) of Law Enforcement Agencies.

    District and local level law enforcement agencies are integrated through connect module of BHARATPOL Portal and they can send requests for publication of INTERPOL Notices and requests for assistance in criminal matters through their ILOs (INTERPOL Liaison officer).

    The IPCU (INTERPOL Police Cooperation Unit) CBI has been imparting trainings to all ILOs/ UOs (INTERPOL Liaison Officers / Unit Officers) regarding BHARATPOL. Training was given to ILOs at CBI HQ on the day of launch of BHARATPOL on 07.01.2025. Thereafter, individualized trainings have been given in online mode to Andhra Pradesh Police, Delhi Police, Tripura Police, Telangana Police, Punjab Police, Assam Police. Further, CBI Academy also organized an online training program for all the Law Enforcement Agencies on 03.03.2025 on role of INTERPOL and International Cooperation and “BHARATPOL”.

    This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

    ***

    RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2117802) Visitor Counter : 58

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –