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Category: Law

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Lesotho needs constitutional reforms to help gain political stability – but the latest attempt is flawed

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hoolo ‘Nyane, Head of Department, Public and Environmental Law Department, University of Limpopo

    Lesotho, a small country landlocked by South Africa, has been struggling to make constitutional reforms since the advent of coalition politics in 2012. It needs the reforms to address political instability which has been a feature of the country for more than five decades.

    The judiciary, security agencies and civil service have been politicised, resulting in the institutions being abused for political ends, stoking recurrent instability.

    The reform project has encountered many headwinds. High government turnover amid unstable governing coalitions, the reform processes being declared invalid numerous times by the judiciary, and a sheer lack of political will are just a few.

    The current administration, in power since 2022, is taking a new stab at it. The national assembly is debating the bills intended to amend the constitution. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has hailed this as “a positive development”.

    But as a constitutional law researcher who has published widely on the constitutional developments in Lesotho, I argue that the current approach to constitutional amendment is only intended to ward off the current pressure to pass reforms. It may not cure the longstanding constitutional problems in the country.

    The approach has two features. Firstly, the reforms process is now almost exclusively led by the government. This will enable the government to have only its views, and those it agrees with, being enacted as national reforms.

    Secondly, it breaks the constitution into three separate amendments. This dismembers the constitution. The court of appeal has already warned against that, saying the sections of the constitution, regardless of how they are amendable, belong to a single basic structure.

    Fits and starts

    The reform attempts have been in fits and starts. The most decisive step was in 2022 when parliament, on the eve of its dissolution ahead of elections, passed a raft of reforms known as the omnibus bill. This resulted in the 10th amendment to the constitution.

    However, parliament didn’t follow the amendment procedures set by the constitution. The Court of Appeal in turn declared the reforms invalid. The process was restarted after the 2022 elections, overseen by the SADC Panel of Elders led by former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete.

    New attempt at reform

    With the support of the SADC, the current coalition government, led by Prime Minister Sam Matekane, has broken the constitutional reforms into three sets:

    • Changes requiring a simple majority in parliament to pass: These are amendments that either introduce new provisions to the constitution, or alter provisions of the constitution that are not entrenched. These include sections such as changing the number of official languages. Government can pass this set alone.

    • Changes requiring a two-thirds majority: Section 85 of the constitution protects certain provisions by requiring a minimum two-thirds majority of the two houses of parliament. These provisions include the structure and workings of parliament, among others. The present government lacks this majority. It needs opposition support to pass this set.

    • Changes requiring a referendum: These are provisions that require a vote of electors before enactment, such as changes to the monarch and the bill of rights. They can only be changed by consensus across all sectors of society, not just in parliament. There is no plan at present to move ahead with this set of amendments.

    The idea of the three-part approach is to speed up reforms amid immense international and local pressure as it circumvents the many procedural hurdles in amending entrenched provisions.

    But I see problems with it.

    Stakeholders left out

    The National Reforms Authority, established by an act of parliament in 2019, was disbanded in 2022 by the government of the former prime minister, Moeketsi Majoro.

    The reforms authority was not a perfect model. It was dominated by politicians and was criticised for not following proper constitution-making processes. But at least it gave the reform project some legitimacy because it represented a variety of stakeholders. It even relied on public consultations reports produced by its predecessor, the National Dialogue Planning Committee.

    In the new approach reforms are led by the government. Previous governments were warned against a government-led approach to reforms as it alienates other stakeholders.

    The ultimate purpose of these reforms is to change governance in Lesotho, which is characterised by unchecked exercise of executive power. It’s unlikely that a government will reform itself.

    There are political elites – in government and the opposition – who are against fundamental changes. They believe in continuing the current Westminster design with only minimal changes. The problem with the Westminster system in Lesotho (a constitutional monarchy) is that the monarch’s powers have drifted to the prime minister, who exercises them for political ends. This has been at the centre of political instability.

    Piecemeal approach

    The government has evidently rejected calls to totally overhaul the constitution and replace it with a new one. Instead, it has chosen piecemeal amendments.

    The government reckons it can easily pass the simple majority amendments and easily negotiate with the opposition to secure support for passing the two-thirds amendments. Then, perhaps in future, consider the amendments requiring a referendum.

    This is a flawed attempt to deal with criticism by both the high court and the court of appeal in 2022. The courts held that parliament had disregarded the rules about how to amend the constitution.

    Parliament is now heading for another pitfall: dismembering the constitution. Breaking it into compartments to make it easier to amend it will kill its basic structure.

    The courts have already warned the parliament against interfering with the basic structure of the constitution without the involvement of the people.

    What should be done

    The donor community and society in Lesotho have grown impatient with the delay in finalising the reforms. But pandering to pressures is not enough.

    The ideal approach would be for the country to make the new constitution through a proper process that will culminate with the people approving the outcome in a referendum. This approach has already worked in recent constitutional changes in Africa. The most recent examples are Kenya and Zimbabwe. This approach will enable the country to reflect holistically on its treacherous constitutional development and clothe the new changes with the garb of legitimacy.

    – Lesotho needs constitutional reforms to help gain political stability – but the latest attempt is flawed
    – https://theconversation.com/lesotho-needs-constitutional-reforms-to-help-gain-political-stability-but-the-latest-attempt-is-flawed-237905

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lesotho needs constitutional reforms to help gain political stability – but the latest attempt is flawed

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Hoolo ‘Nyane, Head of Department, Public and Environmental Law Department, University of Limpopo

    Lesotho, a small country landlocked by South Africa, has been struggling to make constitutional reforms since the advent of coalition politics in 2012. It needs the reforms to address political instability which has been a feature of the country for more than five decades.

    The judiciary, security agencies and civil service have been
    politicised, resulting in the institutions being abused for political ends, stoking recurrent instability.

    The reform project has encountered many headwinds. High government turnover amid unstable governing coalitions, the reform processes being declared invalid numerous times by the judiciary, and a sheer lack of political will are just a few.

    The current administration, in power since 2022, is taking a new stab at it. The national assembly is debating the bills intended to amend the constitution. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has hailed this as “a positive development”.

    But as a constitutional law researcher who has published widely on the constitutional developments in Lesotho, I argue that the current approach to constitutional amendment is only intended to ward off the current pressure to pass reforms. It may not cure the longstanding constitutional problems in the country.

    The approach has two features. Firstly, the reforms process is now almost exclusively led by the government. This will enable the government to have only its views, and those it agrees with, being enacted as national reforms.

    Secondly, it breaks the constitution into three separate amendments. This dismembers the constitution. The court of appeal has already warned against that, saying the sections of the constitution, regardless of how they are amendable, belong to a single basic structure.

    Fits and starts

    The reform attempts have been in fits and starts. The most decisive step was in 2022 when parliament, on the eve of its dissolution ahead of elections, passed a raft of reforms known as the omnibus bill. This resulted in the 10th amendment to the constitution.

    However, parliament didn’t follow the amendment procedures set by the constitution. The Court of Appeal in turn declared the reforms invalid. The process was restarted after the 2022 elections, overseen by the SADC Panel of Elders led by former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete.

    New attempt at reform

    With the support of the SADC, the current coalition government, led by Prime Minister Sam Matekane, has broken the constitutional reforms into three sets:

    • Changes requiring a simple majority in parliament to pass: These are amendments that either introduce new provisions to the constitution, or alter provisions of the constitution that are not entrenched. These include sections such as changing the number of official languages. Government can pass this set alone.

    • Changes requiring a two-thirds majority: Section 85 of the constitution protects certain provisions by requiring a minimum two-thirds majority of the two houses of parliament. These provisions include the structure and workings of parliament, among others. The present government lacks this majority. It needs opposition support to pass this set.

    • Changes requiring a referendum: These are provisions that require a vote of electors before enactment, such as changes to the monarch and the bill of rights. They can only be changed by consensus across all sectors of society, not just in parliament. There is no plan at present to move ahead with this set of amendments.

    The idea of the three-part approach is to speed up reforms amid immense international and local pressure as it circumvents the many procedural hurdles in amending entrenched provisions.

    But I see problems with it.

    Stakeholders left out

    The National Reforms Authority, established by an act of parliament in 2019, was disbanded in 2022 by the government of the former prime minister, Moeketsi Majoro.

    The reforms authority was not a perfect model. It was dominated by politicians and was criticised for not following proper constitution-making processes. But at least it gave the reform project some legitimacy because it represented a variety of stakeholders. It even relied on public consultations reports produced by its predecessor, the National Dialogue Planning Committee.

    In the new approach reforms are led by the government. Previous governments were warned against a government-led approach to reforms as it alienates other stakeholders.

    The ultimate purpose of these reforms is to change governance in Lesotho, which is characterised by unchecked exercise of executive power. It’s unlikely that a government will reform itself.

    There are political elites – in government and the opposition – who are against fundamental changes. They believe in continuing the current Westminster design with only minimal changes. The problem with the Westminster system in Lesotho (a constitutional monarchy) is that the monarch’s powers have drifted to the prime minister, who exercises them for political ends. This has been at the centre of political instability.

    Piecemeal approach

    The government has evidently rejected calls to totally overhaul the constitution and replace it with a new one. Instead, it has chosen piecemeal amendments.

    The government reckons it can easily pass the simple majority amendments and easily negotiate with the opposition to secure support for passing the two-thirds amendments. Then, perhaps in future, consider the amendments requiring a referendum.

    This is a flawed attempt to deal with criticism by both the high court and the court of appeal in 2022. The courts held that parliament had disregarded the rules about how to amend the constitution.

    Parliament is now heading for another pitfall: dismembering the constitution. Breaking it into compartments to make it easier to amend it will kill its basic structure.

    The courts have already warned the parliament against interfering with the basic structure of the constitution without the involvement of the people.

    What should be done

    The donor community and society in Lesotho have grown impatient with the delay in finalising the reforms. But pandering to pressures is not enough.

    The ideal approach would be for the country to make the new constitution through a proper process that will culminate with the people approving the outcome in a referendum. This approach has already worked in recent constitutional changes in Africa. The most recent examples are Kenya and Zimbabwe. This approach will enable the country to reflect holistically on its treacherous constitutional development and clothe the new changes with the garb of legitimacy.

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

    – ref. Lesotho needs constitutional reforms to help gain political stability – but the latest attempt is flawed – https://theconversation.com/lesotho-needs-constitutional-reforms-to-help-gain-political-stability-but-the-latest-attempt-is-flawed-237905

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE #3: Concern for Welfare – Missing person – Tennant Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have called off the search for missing person Mr M. Graham after locating human remains this afternoon.

    Mr Graham was last seen by family members on Monday morning after leaving in a silver Ford vehicle.  The vehicle was located some distance from Tennant Creek on Tuesday night and a concentrated search effort was launched on Wednesday.

    Police utilised motorcycle, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), mounted patrols, a cadaver dog, drone and a helicopter to supplement the foot search of the rough terrain for Mr Graham.

    Formal identification is still required, however, Northern Territory police are confident the remains are that of the missing person. 

    The death is not being treated as suspicious.

    Whilst it is a sad day for the family, they are grateful that his remains have been located.  The family has expressed thanks to the police and volunteers who searched for Mr M. Graham.

    Northern Territory Police would like to thank all the volunteers who assisted in the search and to those who provided police valuable information. 

    Police would also like to thank the members of Norforce Centre Squadron who assisted during the search.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Concern for welfare – Missing Person – Tennant Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    UPDATE: This media release has been amended since the original release.

    Northern Territory Police continue with land and air search efforts in Tennant Creek in an effort to locate Maxie Graham.  Despite efforts over the last three days Mr Graham has not been located with Police holding grave concerns for his welfare.  Police are asking the public for assistance in tracing Mr Graham’s whereabouts.  The last positive sighting of Mr Graham was on Monday morning. 

    Maxie Graham was last seen driving a silver Ford SUV at around 6.30am on Monday 16 September.  The vehicle was located abandoned at 09:20pm on Tuesday. 

    He is unable to walk unaided meaning he could not have ventured far from where his vehicle was located.

    Maxie Graham has medical conditions and has not presented for crucial appointments.  His family and the greater Tennant Creek community hold concerns for his welfare.

    Police are calling for witnesses who observed this vehicle travelling in Tennant Creek between 6.30am on Monday and 9.17pm on Tuesday to contact the Police on 000 or 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Serious crash at Hayborough

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police and emergency services are at the scene of a serious crash at Hayborough.

    Police were called to the intersection of Ocean Road and Port Elliot Road after a car hit a tree.

    The southern end of Ocean Road is currently closed. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs attends barracks visit for Hong Kong and Macao youths in Guangzhou

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs attends barracks visit for Hong Kong and Macao youths in Guangzhou
    Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs attends barracks visit for Hong Kong and Macao youths in Guangzhou
    ******************************************************************************************

         The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, arrived in Guangzhou this afternoon (September 22) to attend a barracks visit for youths from Hong Kong and Macao.     Organised by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Provincial Corps of the Chinese people’s Armed Police Force, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, the event aims to promote national defence education among youths from Hong Kong and Macao, and enhance young people’s understanding of national defence and awareness of national security, thereby strengthening their affection for and sense of belonging to the country.     Speaking at the activity, Miss Mak said that national security is the foundation for prosperity and stability in society, as well as the well-being of the people. Today’s event provided a great opportunity for young people from Hong Kong and Macao to visit the barracks and gain an in-depth understanding of the importance of national defence education and national security.     Miss Mak said, “The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to encouraging Hong Kong youths to inherit and promote patriotism and national pride. The HKSAR Government aims to support young people in pursuing their dreams by taking advantage of the opportunities brought by the country’s key strategies, helping them better integrate into the overall development of the nation.” She encouraged youths from Hong Kong and Macao to equip themselves and contribute to the development of the country, Hong Kong and Macao.     About 500 youths from Hong Kong and Macao joined the event. They visited showcases of military equipment and barracks dormitories, gaining insights into the importance of national defence and national security.     Miss Mak finished the visit in the afternoon and returned to Hong Kong on the same day.

     
    Ends/Sunday, September 22, 2024Issued at HKT 17:17

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cole Harbour — Missing person: Help the RCMP find Erica Seguin

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 33-year-old Erica Seguin. She was last seen on Thursday September 19, 2024 in the Lake Loon area.

    Seguin has long dark hair, brown eyes. She’s approximately 5’4, 100 lbs. When last seen, she was wearing a brown leather purse, light colored t-shirt and dark pants. Seguin may be travelling in a beige Ford Fusion.

    When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.

    Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Erica Seguin is asked to contact the RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment at 902-490-5020. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips App.

    File #: 24-129893

    Note to media: A photo of Erica Seguin is attached.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Rural Development under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality hosts National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Rural Development under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality hosts National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming in New Delhi

    Government engagement in the rural economy aims to transform lives and livelihoods through socio-economic inclusion and empowerment: Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh

    Conclave focuses on strengthening gender-responsive community institutions and discusses strategies for advancing gender integration within the DAY-NRLM framework

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 11:02AM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), in collaboration with the Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE) successfully hosted the National Conclave on Gender Mainstreaming in New Delhi yesterday. The conclave focused on strengthening gender-responsive community institutions and discussed strategies for advancing gender integration within the DAY-NRLM framework.

     

    Secretary, Rural Development Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh emphasized that government engagement in the rural economy aims to transform lives and livelihoods through socio-economic inclusion and empowerment. He highlighted that DAY-NRLM has adopted a ‘whole-of-government approach’ through inter-ministerial collaboration. Now, we need to sharpen our gender strategy by learning from voices on the ground and experts.

    Former Secretary, Government of India Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha that DAY-NRLM provides a unique opportunity to empower women by addressing structural inequalities and strengthening women’s collectives, voice, and agency. He emphasized that critical self-awareness is essential to understand the unequal division of labor, the burden of unpaid care work, and the lack of rights and entitlements for women. He called for customized, context-specific solutions tailored to the unique challenges of each SHG across the country and recommended establishing immersion sites for experiential learning and strengthening partnerships with civil society organizations.

    Additional Secretary, Rural Development Shri Charanjit Singh mentioned that capacity building is a continuous process. He called for enhancing the capabilities of SHGs, Village Organizations (VOs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) and Social Action Committees (SACs) to perform their mandates. He stressed the need for improved legal and psychological support for SHG members, suggesting collaboration with the Department of Justice to disseminate knowledge about available legal remedies for women.

    The event had four panel discussions on topics including gender-responsive community institutions, convergence pathways, integrating gender into program design, and alliance and advocacy. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Women and Child Development, SRLMs, SHG members, gender experts and civil society partners.

    Key discussions focused on barriers to women’s empowerment, including unpaid work, the gendered division of labor, wage gaps, and lack of ownership in agriculture. The Nayi Chetna initiative, a global advocacy program now in its third year, was highlighted for addressing these issues through collective action. A key point raised was the need for comprehensive gender training for all NRLM mission staff, panchayat representatives and institutional stakeholders to address these challenges more effectively.

    It was also noted that gender is a cross-cutting issue that needs to be integrated into all areas, including livelihoods and institutional mechanisms. Discussions emphasized the importance of engaging men, boys, and youth to challenge traditional gender norms and create inclusive spaces. The role of SHGs in fostering gender equality within households and promoting women’s leadership in farming and local enterprises was also celebrated.

    The conclave concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen institutional mechanisms, expand collaborative efforts and develop a robust strategy for gender mainstreaming not only within NRLM but beyond, ensuring rural women across India are empowered to lead fulfilling and violence-free lives.

    *****

    SS

    (Release ID: 2057251) Visitor Counter : 26

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar preside over as Chief Guest during the Sign Language Day celebrations in New Delhi tomorrow

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar preside over as Chief Guest during the  Sign Language Day celebrations in New Delhi tomorrow

    Theme for the Sign Language Day-2024 is ‘Sign up for Sign Language Rights’

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 2:00PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment (SJE), Dr. Virendra Kumar will be the Chief Guest for the  Sign Language Day-2024 celebrations tomorrow, at Bhim Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi. MoS (SJE), Shri B.L.Verma, will be the Guest of Honour on the occasion.

    The Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi, under the aegis of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) [DEPwD], Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, will be organising the event.

    The theme of this year Sign Language Day-2024 is ‘Sign up for Sign Language Rights’.  The world will once again highlight the unity generated by sign languages. World leaders and other government officials are invited to strive towards a better implementation of the Rights of Person with Disabilities at the national level through the linguistic human rights of deaf people; And, to Sign up for sign language rights by working with our local and national associations to announce the achievement of a concrete goal for deaf communities on Sign Language day.

    During the event, the following Indian Sign Language (ISL) terms and Videos will be launched:

    1. Launch of 2500 terms in Indian Sign Language: To expand the existing ISL dictionary, ISLRTC has collaborated with 4 organizations working in the field and jointly developed the 2500 terms in Indian Sign Language. The organizations are YUNIKEE, Hyderabad for 1000 terms, India Signing Hands, Mumbai for 500 terms, Bridge Connectivity Solutions, Delhi for 500 terms and Anuprayaas, Mohali for 500 terms. The 2500 terms covers the various school subjects such as mathematics, science, language, geography and higher education areas such as philosophy, linguistics, computer science, etc., and sports, infrastructure, accessibility, etc.
    2. Launch of 100 concept videos in ISL: ISLRTC in collaboration with YUNIKEE developed 100 concept videos in Indian Sign Language for Hearing Impaired children of class 6th, covering various school subjects such as mathematics, science, social science and language. The special features of concepts videos are detailed explanation in ISL to develop concept clarity, graphical images to promote learning, Audio and subtitles to promote inclusive learning and illustration and examples to improve learning outcomes and academic achievements.
    3. Launch of ISL dictionary in 10 languages: To promote accessibility, the ISL dictionary will be made available in 10 Regional Languages.
    4. Launch of Educational Animated Videos in ISL: To develop morals values and new learning experience among hearing impaired children and to promote inclusive learning environment.
    5. Launch of Deaf Role Model Videos in ISL: To create inspiration, motivation, sense of purpose, moral values and guidance among hearing impaired children.
    6. The Centre conducted 7th Indian Sign Language Competition, 2024 – a national-level competition held for students with hearing disabilities. The students have showcased their creativity and knowledge by participating in the competition. All the winners of the 7th ISL competition will be distributed trophy and certificate during the Sign Language Day 2024 programme.

    The ISLRTC celebrates the occasion every year ever since the United Nations declared 23rd September as the International Day of Sign Languages. DEPwD and ISLRTC are making all the possible efforts to bring more citizens, stakeholders, service-providing agencies, schools for deaf, NGOs, activists, deaf leaders, educators, researchers etc. together into the fold of Sign Language Day, in order to create positive awareness about ISL among all sections of our society.

    The Day also reminds us of the need and importance of preserving sign languages as a part of linguistic and cultural diversity. All the professionals, parents of deaf, deaf students and institutions working in the field of Indian Sign Language, deaf education and differently-abled people from all walks of life are important target groups to rope into the Sign Language Day celebration.

    Dignitaries gracing the occasion would include Shri Rajesh Aggrawal, Secretary, DEPwD; Dr. Sharanjeet Kaur, Chairperson, RCI; Shri Rajeev Sharma, Joint Secretary, DEPwD; and, Dr. Jitendra Sharma, Director, ISLRTC. Representatives from National Association of Deaf, All India Federation of Deaf Women and Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy and other representatives of the Deaf Community will also present on the occasion.

    *****

    VM

     

    (Release ID: 2057529) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Shri Pralhad Joshi inspects office of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution during ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ campaign

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 12:48PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi along with Shri B.L Verma, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the team of senior officers of the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs, inspected the Canteen and various offices of the Department of Food and Public Distribution on 20.09.2024. During his inspection, the Union Minister emphasized the need for maintaining cleanliness of the rooms, canteen and the common areas of the office premise.

    Sh. Rajender Kumar, Joint Secretary held a meeting with the officers of DFPD and its PSUs/attached/ subordinate officers on the same day to discuss the preparation for Special Campaign 4.0 and review the progress made so far under SHS-2024. He told all concern to take the necessary action in the time bound manner and update the data on the SCDPM and SHS portal regularly.

    The officers and officials of the Department enthusiastically participated in a Walkathon and plogging from Krishi Bhawan to Jantar Manter on 20.09.2024. On their way to Jantar Mantar, they picked up the garbage lying on the roads and pavements and disposed it off in the blue and green dustbins.

     

    A cleanliness drive was carried out by the staff of Indian Grain Storage Management & Research Institute Hapur along the roadside of Meerut Road near the staff colony.

     Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) distributed Sanitary Napkins at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya & G.G.S.S School and  also organized a Slogan Writing Competition.

    .

     

    Swachhata pledge was taken  at National Sugar Institute, Kanpur on 20.09.2024

     

     

    Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) organized a drawing competition as part of mass awareness campaign under the initiative of Swachhata Hi Sewa-2024 on 20.09.2024. The competition aimed to engage participants, particularly children, in promoting the importance of cleanliness and hygiene, fostering awareness about maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

    Various activities like cleaning of road side of district park by its Regional Office Mumbai and railway track cleaning by Regional Office, Nasik were also undertaken.

     

     

     

     

     

    Senior Officers and few employees of Food Corporation of India Headquarters visited the Swachhata Lakshit Ekayi (Cleanliness Target Unit) Site at Sikandra Lane and did inspection work with the NDMC workers at the selected Blackspot.

     

     

    Employees of FCI Food Storage Depot under Assam Region, FCI Regional Office, Ranchi and FCI Zonal Office (East)  Kolkata alongwith Safai Mitras  participated in the removal of Black Spot Garbage. Employees of FCI Regional office ,Gujarat organized a cleanliness drive inside/outside their office. Employee of Karnataka Region took a Swacchata pledge.  A medical health camp for staff and Safai worker was also organized to make participants  more aware of the health issues along with Swacchata. The employees also participated in a walkathon organized under Swacchata Hi Seva Campaign 2024.

      Pictorial glimpses of various activities undertaken by various Regional Offices of Food Corporation of India.

     

     

     

         

     

    This Department alongwith its PSUs/ attached and subordinate offices is committed to ensure cleanliness, hygiene and environment sustainability through active participation of  its officers /officials.
       

    ***********

    AD/NS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Roadmap For U.S.-India Initiative to Build Safe and Secure Global Clean Energy Supply Chains

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 8:12AM by PIB Delhi

    The United States and India share an enduring commitment to deepen our collaboration on issues of shared national and economic security. As an important aspect of our economic growth agendas, we are committed to working together to capture the benefits of the clean energy transition, including the creation of high-quality jobs for our populations, acceleration of clean energy deployment globally, and achievement of global climate goals.

    In support of these objectives, the United States and India intend to elevate and expand bilateral technical, financial, and policy support to expand complementary U.S. and Indian manufacturing capacity for clean energy technologies and components and lay the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in third countries, with a focus on partnerships in Africa. This effort will build on existing clean energy cooperation between the United States and India, including clean energy initiatives launched during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States in 2023, the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership led by the U.S. Department of Energy and Government of India ministries, technical assistance provided by U.S. laboratories, and novel financial platforms such as the Payment Security Mechanism established to support the rapid deployment of electric buses in India. A U.S. and Indian partnership to establish a shared, resilient, and cutting-edge techno-industrial base centered on innovative clean energy manufacturing techniques sets a strong example for the world and positions our countries to lead clean economic development in the 21st century. 

    To launch this partnership, the United States and India are working to unlock USD$1 billion in new multilateral finance through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for projects that include catalyzing India’s domestic clean energy supply chain buildout. The funding could support supply-side manufacturing capacity expansion for key technology verticals, focusing on solar, wind, battery, energy grid systems, and high-efficiency air conditioner and ceiling fan supply chains. Over time, we seek to mobilize additional financing into priority clean energy manufacturing sectors that harness public and private financial tools and pioneer innovative financial vehicles to meet the rapid demand for flexible climate finance solutions.

    The United States and India intend to work with relevant government agencies, civil society, U.S. and Indian private sectors, philanthropies, and multilateral development banks to identify a package of pilot projects across the clean energy value chain that meet our eligibility criteria and meaningfully contribute to supply chain expansion and diversification in identified sectors. The U.S. and Indian governments also pledge to work with industry leaders on the following lines of effort to launch and eventually scale this new partnership: 

    Identifying near-term investment opportunities to expand manufacturing capacity for specific clean energy supply chain segments, with initial focuses on the following clean energy components:

    Solar wafers and wafer manufacturing equipment & next generation solar cells

    Wind turbine nacelle components

    Power transmission line components including conductors, cabling, transformers, and next generation technologies

    Energy storage components including batteries

    Battery packs for 2- and 3-wheel electric vehicles (EVs) and zero-emission e-bus and truck components

    High-efficiency air conditioners and ceiling fan components

    Collaborating with the private sector to scope eligible opportunities in the above supply chain segments and support an initial package of pilot projects, ideally including one project focused on clean energy deployment to Africa. Additional investments plans and sources of funding can be developed over time. This effort would build on private sector partnerships facilitated by U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) across the solar, wind, battery, and critical minerals sectors to pursue opportunities to finance the manufacture of clean energy components. Such investments may be in scope for India’s Green Transition Fund – which will support renewable energy, storage, and e-mobility investments in India and strengthen demand for localized manufacturing – as well as for Indian private equity fund manager Eversource Capital’s new DFC-supported $900 million fund to invest in clean technologies such as renewable energy, efficient cooling, and electric transportation.

    Building trilateral relationships with African partners that have stated political commitments to clean energy deployment, focusing on solar and battery storage opportunities. India and the United States can work multilaterally with African partners to pursue high-potential solar and EV deployment opportunities, understand the conditions required for project success, detail the partnerships and financial model for project success, and implement the project. The United States intends to collaborate with Indian companies to explore investment opportunities and facilitate public-private matchmaking expand partnerships with local African manufacturers. DFC and the U.S. Agency for International Development are anchoring this effort by collaborating with India-based International Solar Alliance to deploy solar and EV charging networks near health facilities.

    Collaborating with each other and industry to consult on policies that will strengthen demand certainty for locally manufactured clean technologies. The U.S. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act were historic laws designed to invest in the large-scale deployment of clean energy technologies while also reinvigorating the manufacturing capacity of the United States to appropriately onshore clean energy supply chains. Likewise, India’s Production Linked Incentive Schemes have invested over $4.5 billion to catalyze nascent clean energy manufacturing. However, additional policies are vital to expand and protect these investments in the face of global market dynamics and thin profit margins. Both countries acknowledge the importance of sharing insights on how to design policy frameworks to reduce demand uncertainties and ensure sufficient input materials, technological expertise, finance, and other manufacturing enablers are available and secure.

    This roadmap is intended to serve as a short-term mechanism for driving initial cooperation on projects, to help inform a long-term roadmap including working together to establish a cadence of meetings and milestones this partnership. This roadmap is not intended to give rise to rights or obligations under domestic or international law.

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    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2057453) Visitor Counter : 74

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement from the Leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 8:15AM by PIB Delhi

    Today, we—Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States—met for the fourth in-person Quad Leaders Summit, hosted by President Biden in Wilmington, Delaware.

    Four years since elevating the Quad to a leader-level format, the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific. We celebrate the fact that over just four years, Quad countries have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come.

    Anchored by shared values, we seek to uphold the international order based on the rule of law. Together we represent nearly two billion people and over one-third of global gross domestic product. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. Through our cooperation, the Quad is harnessing all of our collective strengths and resources, from governments to the private sector to people-to-people relationships, to support the region’s sustainable development, stability, and prosperity by delivering tangible benefits to the people of the Indo-Pacific.

    As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity. We strongly oppose any destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. We condemn recent illicit missile launches in the region that violate UN Security Council resolutions. We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated—one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures. We are united in our commitment to upholding a stable and open international system, with its strong support for human rights, the principle of freedom, rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes and prohibition on the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter.

    Reflecting the Vision Statement issued by Leaders at the 2023 Quad Summit, we are and will continue to be transparent in what we do. Respect for the leadership of regional institutions, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), is and will remain at the center of the Quad’s efforts.

    A Global Force for Good

    Health Security

    The COVID-19 pandemic reminded the world how important health security is to our societies, our economies, and the stability of our region. In 2021 and 2022, the Quad came together to deliver more than 400 million safe and effective COVID-19 doses to Indo-Pacific countries and almost 800 million vaccines globally, and provided $5.6 billion to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment for vaccine supply to low and middle-income countries. In 2023, we announced the Quad Health Security Partnership, through which the Quad continues to deliver for partners across the region, including through the delivery of pandemic preparedness training.

    In response to the current clade I mpox outbreak, as well as the ongoing clade II mpox outbreak, we plan to coordinate our efforts to promote equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured mpox vaccines, including where appropriate expanding vaccine manufacturing in low and middle-income countries.

    Today we are proud to announce the Quad Cancer Moonshot, a groundbreaking partnership to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region. Building on the Quad’s successful partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic, our collective investments to address cancer in the region, our scientific and medical capabilities, and contributions from our private and non-profit sectors, we will collaborate with partner nations to reduce the burden of cancer in the region.

    The Quad Cancer Moonshot will focus initially on combatting cervical cancer—a preventable cancer that continues to claim too many lives—in the Indo-Pacific region, while laying the groundwork to address other forms of cancer as well. The United States intends to support this initiative, including through U.S. Navy medical trainings and professional exchanges around cervical cancer prevention in the region starting in 2025, and through U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) openness to finance eligible private sector-driven projects to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, including cervical cancer. Australia is announcing the expansion of the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer Program (EPICC) with support of the Australian Government and the Minderoo Foundation to AUD 29.6 million, to cover up to eleven countries in the Indo-Pacific in helping advance the elimination of cervical cancer and support complementary initiatives focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. India commits to providing HPV sampling kits, detection kits, and cervical cancer vaccines worth $7.5 million to the Indo-Pacific region. India, through its $10 million commitment to the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health, will offer technical assistance to interested countries in the Indo-Pacific region for the adoption and deployment of its Digital Public Infrastructure that helps in cancer screening and care. Japan is providing medical equipment, including CT and MRI scanners, and other assistance worth approximately $27 million, including in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, and is contributing to international organizations such as the Gavi Vaccine Alliance. Quad partners also intend to work, within respective national contexts, to collaborate in advancing research and development in the area of cancer and to increase private sector and non-governmental sector activities in support of reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the region. We welcome a number of new, ambitious commitments from non-governmental institutions, including the Serum Institute of India, in partnership with Gavi, which will support orders of up to 40 million HPV vaccine doses, subject to necessary approvals, for the Indo-Pacific region, and which may be increased consistent with demand. We also welcome a new $100 million commitment from Women’s Health and Empowerment Network to address cervical cancer in Southeast Asia.

    Altogether, our scientific experts assess that the Quad Cancer Moonshot will save hundreds of thousands of lives over the coming decades.

    Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

    Twenty years since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, when the Quad first came together to surge humanitarian assistance, we continue to respond to the vulnerabilities caused by natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific. In 2022, the Quad established the “Quad Partnership on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief in the Indo-Pacific” and signed Guidelines for the Quad Partnership on HADR in the Indo-Pacific, which enable Quad countries to rapidly coordinate in the face of natural disasters. We welcome Quad governments working to ensure readiness to rapidly respond, including through pre-positioning of essential relief supplies, in the event of a natural disaster; this effort extends from the Indian Ocean region, to Southeast Asia, to the Pacific.

    In May 2024, following a tragic landslide in Papua New Guinea, Quad partners collectively contributed over $5 million in humanitarian assistance. Quad partners are working together to provide over $4 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people of Vietnam in light of the devastating consequences of Typhoon Yagi. The Quad continues to support partners in the region in their longer-term resiliency efforts.

    Maritime Security

    In 2022, we announced the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) to offer near-real-time, integrated, and cost-effective maritime domain awareness information to partners in the region. Since then, in consultation with partners, we have successfully scaled the program across the Indo-Pacific region—through the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, with partners in Southeast Asia, to the Information Fusion Center—Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram. In doing so, the Quad has helped well over two dozen countries access dark vessel maritime domain awareness data, so they can better monitor the activities in their exclusive economic zones—including unlawful activity. Australia commits to boosting its cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency to enhance regional maritime domain awareness in the Pacific through satellite data, training, and capacity building.

    Today we are announcing a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), to enable our partners in the region to maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad partner initiatives, to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behavior. We look forward to India hosting the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025. Furthermore, we welcome the launch of a Quad maritime legal dialogue to support efforts to uphold the rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Quad partners intend to layer new technology and data into IPMDA over the coming year, to continue to deliver cutting edge capability and information to the region.

    We are also announcing today that the U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard, plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025, to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety, and continuing with further missions in future years across the Indo-Pacific. 

    We also announce today the launch of a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project, to pursue shared airlift capacity among our nations and leverage our collective logistics strengths, in order to support civilian response to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently across the Indo-Pacific region.

    Quality Infrastructure

    The Quad remains committed to improving the region’s connectivity through the development of quality, resilient infrastructure.

    We are pleased to announce the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, which will harness the Quad’s expertise to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific, in collaboration with regional partners. In 2025, we intend to hold a Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference, hosted by India in Mumbai. Through this new partnership, Quad partners intend to coordinate, exchange information, share best practices with partners in the region, and leverage resources to mobilize government and private sector investments in quality port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region.

    We applaud the expansion of the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships to more than 2,200 experts, and note that Quad partners have already provided well over 1,300 fellowships since the initiative was announced at last year’s Summit. We also appreciate the workshop organized by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in India, working to empower partners across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen power sector resilience.

    Through the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, we continue to support and strengthen quality undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific, the capacity, durability, and reliability of which are inextricably linked to the security and prosperity of the region and the world. In support of these efforts, Australia launched the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre in July, which is delivering workshops and policy and regulatory assistance in response to requests from across the region. Japan will extend technical cooperation to improve public ICT infrastructure management capacity for an undersea cable in Nauru and Kiribati. The United States has conducted over 1,300 capacity building trainings for telecommunication officials and executives from 25 countries in the Indo-Pacific; today the U.S. announces its intent, working with Congress, to invest an additional $3.4 million to extend and expand this training program.

    Investments in cable projects by Quad partners will help support all Pacific island countries in achieving primary telecommunication cable connectivity by the end of 2025. Since the last Quad Leaders’ Summit, Quad partners have committed over $140 million to undersea cable builds in the Pacific, alongside contributions from other likeminded partners. Complementing these investments in new undersea cables, India has commissioned a feasibility study to examine expansion of undersea cable maintenance and repair capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

    We reaffirm our support for the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles, which are an expression of Pacific voices on infrastructure.

    We underscore our commitment to an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, reliable and secure digital future to advance our shared prosperity and sustainable development across the Indo-Pacific. In this context, we welcome the Quad Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure.

    Critical and Emerging Technologies

    Today, we are proud to announce an ambitious expansion of our partnership to deliver trusted technology solutions to the broader Indo-Pacific region.

    Last year, Quad partners launched a landmark initiative to deploy the first Open Radio Access Network (RAN) in the Pacific, in Palau, to support a secure, resilient, and interconnected telecommunications ecosystem. Since then, the Quad has pledged approximately $20 million to this effort.

    Quad partners also welcome the opportunity to explore additional Open RAN projects in Southeast Asia. We plan to expand support for ongoing Open RAN field trials and the Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA) in the Philippines, building on the initial $8 million in support that the United States and Japan pledged earlier this year. The United States also plans to invest over $7 million to support the global expansion of AORA, including through establishing a first-of-its-kind Open RAN workforce training initiative at scale in South Asia, in partnership with Indian institutions.

    Quad partners will also explore collaborating with the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation to ensure the country’s readiness for nationwide 5G deployment.

    We remain committed to advancing our cooperation on semiconductors through better leveraging of our complementary strengths to realize a diversified and competitive market and enhance resilience of Quad’s semiconductor supply chains. We welcome a Memorandum of Cooperation between Quad countries for the Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network.

    Through the Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen Agriculture (AI-ENGAGE) initiative announced at last year’s Summit, our governments are deepening leading-edge collaborative research to harness artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensing to transform agricultural approaches and empower farmers across the Indo-Pacific. We are pleased to announce an inaugural $7.5+ million in funding opportunities for joint research, and welcome the recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between our science agencies to connect our research communities and advance shared research principles.

    The United States, Australia, India, and Japan look forward to launching the Quad BioExplore Initiative—a funded mechanism that will support joint AI-driven exploration of diverse non-human biological data across all four countries.

    This project will also be underpinned by the forthcoming Quad Principles for Research and Development Collaborations in Critical and Emerging Technologies.

    Climate and Clean Energy

    As we underscore the severe economic, social, and environmental consequences posed by the climate crisis, we continue to work together with Indo-Pacific partners, including through Quad Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Package (Q-CHAMP), to enhance climate and clean energy cooperation as well as promote adaptation and resilience. We emphasize the significant benefits of transitioning to a clean energy economy for our people, our planet, and our shared prosperity. Our countries intend to strengthen our cooperation to align policies, incentives, standards, and investments around creating high-quality, diversified clean energy supply chains that will enhance our collective energy security, create new economic opportunities across the region, and benefit local workers and communities around the world, particularly across the Indo-Pacific.

    We will work together, through policy and public finance, to operationalize our commitment to catalyzing complementary and high-standard private sector investment in allied and partner clean energy supply chains. To this end, Australia will open applications for the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program in November, providing AUD 50 million to support projects that develop and diversify solar panel, hydrogen electrolyzer and battery supply chains in the Indo-Pacific. India commits to invest $2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Japan has committed to $122 million grants and loans in renewable energy projects in Indo-Pacific countries. The United States, through DFC, will continue to seek opportunities to mobilize private capital to solar, as well as wind, cooling, batteries, and critical minerals to expand and diversify supply chains.

    We are pleased to announce a focused Quad effort to boost energy efficiency, including the deployment and manufacturing of high-efficiency affordable, cooling systems to enable climate-vulnerable communities to adapt to rising temperatures while simultaneously reducing strain on the electricity grid.

    We jointly affirm our commitment to addressing the challenges posed by climate change and ensure the resilience and sustainability of port infrastructure. Quad partners will leverage our learning and expertise to forge a path towards sustainable and resilient port infrastructure, including through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

    Cyber

    In the face of a deteriorating security environment in the cyber domain, Quad countries intend to enhance our cybersecurity partnership to address common threats posed by state-sponsored actors, cybercriminals, and other non-state malicious actors. Our countries commit to taking concrete steps to increase our collective network defense and advance technical capabilities through greater threat information sharing and capacity building. We plan to coordinate joint efforts to identify vulnerabilities, protect national security networks and critical infrastructure networks, and coordinate more closely including on policy responses to significant cybersecurity incidents affecting the Quad’s shared priorities.

    Quad countries are also partnering with software manufacturers, industry trade groups, and research centers to expand our commitmentto pursuing secure software development standards and certification, as endorsed in the Quad’s 2023 Secure Software Joint Principles. We will work to harmonize these standards to not only ensure that the development, procurement, and end-use of software for government networks is more secure, but that the cyber resilience of our supply chains, digital economies, and societies are collectively improved. Throughout this fall, Quad countries each plan to host campaigns to mark the annual Quad Cyber Challenge promoting responsible cyber ecosystems, public resources, and cybersecurity awareness. We are constructively engaging on the Quad Action Plan to Protect Commercial Undersea Telecommunications Cables, developed by the Quad Senior Cyber Group, as a complementary effort to the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience. Our coordinated actions to protect global telecommunications infrastructure as guided by the Action Plan will advance our shared vision for future digital connectivity, global commerce, and prosperity. 

    Space

    We recognize the essential contribution of space-related applications and technologies in the Indo-Pacific. Our four countries intend to continue delivering Earth Observation data and other space-related applications to assist nations across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen climate early warning systems and better manage the impacts of extreme weather events. In this context, we welcome India’s establishment of a space-based web portal for Mauritius, to support the concept of open science for space-based monitoring of extreme weather events and climate impact.

    Quad Investors Network (QUIN)

    We welcome private sector initiatives—including the Quad Investors Network (QUIN), which facilitates investments in strategic technologies, including clean energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, and quantum. The QUIN is mobilizing a number of investments to promote supply chain resilience, advance joint research and development, commercialize new technologies, and invest in our future workforce.

    People-to-People Initiatives

    The Quad is committed to strengthening the deep and enduring ties between our people, and among our partners. Through the Quad Fellowship, we are building a network of the next generation of science, technology, and policy leaders. Together with the Institute of International Education, which leads implementation of the Quad Fellowship, Quad governments welcome the second cohort of Quad Fellows and the expansion of the program to include students from ASEAN countries for the first time. The Government of Japan is supporting the program to enable Quad Fellows to study in Japan. The Quad welcomes the generous support of private sector partners for the next cohort of fellows, including Google, the Pratt Foundation, and Western Digital.

    India is pleased to announce a new initiative to award fifty Quad scholarships, worth $500,000, to students from the Indo-Pacific to pursue a 4-year undergraduate engineering program at a Government of India-funded technical institution.

    Working Together to Address Regional and Global Issues

    Today we reaffirm our consistent and unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity. We continue to support implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and are committed to ensuring the Quad’s work is aligned with ASEAN’s principles and priorities.

    We underscore ASEAN’s regional leadership role, including in the East Asia Summit, the region’s premier leader-led forum for strategic dialogue, and the ASEAN Regional Forum. As comprehensive strategic partners of ASEAN, our four countries intend to continue to strengthen our respective relationships with ASEAN and seek opportunities for greater Quad collaboration in support of the AOIP.

    We recommit to working in partnership with Pacific island countries to achieve shared aspirations and address shared challenges. We reaffirm our support for Pacific regional institutions that have served the region well over many years, with the PIF as the region’s premier political and economic policy organization, and warmly welcome Tonga’s leadership as the current PIF Chair in 2024-2025. We continue to support the objectives of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. We and our governments will continue to listen to and be guided at every step by Pacific priorities, including climate action, ocean health, resilient infrastructure, maritime security and financial integrity. In particular, we acknowledge climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific and applaud Pacific island countries’ global leadership on climate action.

    We remain committed to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. We strongly support IORA as the Indian Ocean region’s premier forum for addressing the region’s challenges. We recognize India’s leadership in finalizing the IORA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (IOIP) and express our support for its implementation. We thank Sri Lanka for its continued leadership as IORA Chair through this year and look forward to India’s assuming the IORA Chair in 2025. 

    As Leaders, we are steadfast in our conviction that international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the maintenance of peace, safety, security and stability in the maritime domain, underpin the sustainable development, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We emphasize the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order, including with respect to maritime claims. We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea. We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers. We also oppose efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities.We reaffirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS. We re-emphasize the importance of maintaining and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law. We re-emphasize the universal and unified character of UNCLOS and reaffirm that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and the seas must be carried out. We underscore that the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.

    Together, with our global and regional partners, we continue to support international institutions and initiatives that underpin global peace, prosperity and sustainable development. We reiterate our unwavering support for the UN Charter and the three pillars of the UN system. In consultation with our partners, we will work collectively to address attempts to unilaterally undermine the integrity of the UN, its Charter, and its agencies. We will reform the UN Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable through expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council. This expansion of permanent seats should include representation for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean in a reformed Security Council.

    We stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes. We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries. In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state.

    We condemn North Korea’s destabilizing ballistic missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). These launches pose a grave threat to international peace and stability. We urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the UNSCRs, refrain from further provocations and engage in substantive dialogue. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula consistent with relevant UNSCRs and call on all countries to fully implement these UNSCRs. We stress the need to prevent any proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to North Korea in the region and beyond. We express our grave concern over North Korea’s use of proliferation networks, malicious cyber activity and workers abroad to fund its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. In that context, we urge all UN Member States to abide by the relevant UNSCRs including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel. We express deep concern about countries that are deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which directly undermines the global nonproliferation regime. As the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts tasked with monitoring violations of North Korea-related UNSCR sanctions was not renewed, we reiterate our commitment to continued implementation of the relevant UNSCRs which remain in full force. We reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

    We remain deeply concerned by the worsening political, security and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, including in Rakhine State, and again call for an immediate cessation of violence, the release of all those unjustly and arbitrarily detained, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, resolution of the crisis through constructive and inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders, and a return to the path of inclusive democracy. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEAN-led efforts, including the work of the ASEAN Chair and the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar. We call for full implementation of all commitments under the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. The ongoing conflict and instability have serious implications for the region, including increases in transnational crime such as cybercrime, the illegal drug trade, and human trafficking. We restate our appeal to all States to prevent the flow of arms and dual-use material, including jet fuel. We remain resolute in our support for the people of Myanmar and commit to continuing to work with all stakeholders in a pragmatic and constructive way, to find a sustainable solution to the crisis in a process which is led by the people of Myanmar and returns Myanmar to the path of democracy.

    We call upon all States to contribute to the safe, peaceful, responsible, and sustainable use of outer space. We remain committed to fostering international cooperation and transparency, as well as confidence-building measures with the goal of improving the security of outer space for all States. We reaffirm the importance of upholding the existing international legal framework for outer space activities, including the Outer Space Treaty, and the obligation of all States Parties to the Treaty not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner.

    The Quad reaffirms its commitment to fostering a resilient information environment including through its Countering Disinformation Working Group by supporting media freedom and addressing foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, which undermines trust and sows discord in the international community. We recognize these tactics are intended to interfere with domestic and international interests, and we are committed, together with our regional partners, to leverage our collective expertise and capacity to respond. We reaffirm our commitment to respect international human rights law, strengthen civil society, support media freedom, address online harassment and abuse, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and counter unethical practices.

    We unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. We are committed to international cooperation and will work with our regional partners in a comprehensive and sustained manner to strengthen their capability to prevent, detect and respond to threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism, including threats posed by the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, consistent with international law. We are committed to working together to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such terrorist attacks. We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks including the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and in Pathankot, and our commitment to pursuing designations, as appropriate, by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee. We welcome the constructive discussions held at the first Quad Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and the fourth tabletop exercise in Honolulu last year, and look forward to Japan hosting the next meeting and tabletop exercise in November 2024.

    We share great interest in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. We unequivocally condemn the terror attacks on October 7, 2023. The large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable. We affirm the imperative of securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and emphasize that the deal to release hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza. We underscore the urgent need to significantly increase deliveries of life-saving humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza as well as the crucial need to prevent regional escalation. We urge all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, as applicable. We welcome UNSCR S/RES/2735 (2024), and strongly urge all parties concerned to work immediately and steadily toward the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire. We call on all parties to take every feasible step to protect the lives of civilians including aid workers, and facilitate the rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian relief to civilians. We also encourage other countries, including those in the Indo-Pacific, to increase their support in order to address the dire humanitarian need on the ground. We underscore that the future recovery and reconstruction of Gaza should be supported by the international community. We remain committed to a sovereign, viable and independent Palestinian state taking into account Israel’s legitimate security concerns as part of a two-state solution that enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in a just, lasting, and secure peace. Any unilateral actions that undermine the prospect of a two-state solution, including Israeli expansion of settlements and violent extremism on all sides, must end. We underscore the need to prevent the conflict from escalating and spilling over in the region.

    We condemn the ongoing attacks perpetrated by the Houthis and their supporters against international and commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which are destabilizing the region and impeding navigational rights and freedoms and trade flows, and jeopardize the safety of vessels and people on board including sailors.

    We reaffirm our commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We underscore the importance of achieving the SDGs in a comprehensive manner without selectively prioritizing a narrow set of such goals, and reaffirm that the UN has a central role in supporting countries in their implementation. With six years left, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and accelerating progress toward all the SDGs in a comprehensive manner that is balanced across three dimensions – economic, social and environmental. From global health to sustainable development and climate change, the global community benefits when all stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to addressing these challenges. We affirm our commitment to contributing to and implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. We underscore our commitment to strongly engaging constructively in the discussion on advancing sustainable development, including at the Summit of the Future. The Quad continues to realize a safe and secure world where human rights and human dignity are protected, based on the central premise of the SDGs: “Leave no one behind.”

    We, the Quad Leaders, remain dedicated to working in partnership with Indo-Pacific countries in deciding our future and shaping the region we all want to live in.

    Enduring Partners for the Indo-Pacific

    Over the past four years, Quad Leaders have met together six times, including twice virtually, and Quad Foreign Ministers have met eight times in the last five years. Quad country representatives meet together on a regular basis, at all levels, including among ambassadors across the four countries’ extensive diplomatic networks, to consult one another, exchange ideas to advance shared priorities, and deliver benefits with and for partners across the Indo-Pacific region. We welcome our Commerce and Industry ministers preparing to meet for the first time in the coming months. We also welcome the leaders of our Development Finance Institutions and Agencies deciding to meet to explore future investments by the four countries in the Indo-Pacific. Altogether, our four countries are cooperating at an unprecedented pace and scale.

    Each of our governments has committed to working through our respective budgetary processes to secure robust funding for Quad priorities in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure an enduring impact. We intend to work with our legislatures to deepen interparliamentary exchanges, and encourage other stakeholders to deepen engagement with Quad counterparts.

    We look forward to the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting hosted by the United States in 2025, and the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India in 2025. The Quad is here to stay.

    *********

    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2057454) Visitor Counter : 48

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: National Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Psychological and Educational Interventions for Diverse Learners: Future Prospects and Challenges’, organized in Ahmedabad

    Source: Government of India (2)

    National Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Psychological and Educational Interventions for Diverse Learners: Future Prospects and Challenges’, organized in Ahmedabad

    “Divyang students should be encouraged to pursue fields of engineering, science, and technology”: Secretary, DEPwD

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 9:45PM by PIB Delhi

    A three-day National Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Psychological and Educational Interventions for Diverse Learners: Future Prospects and Challenges’, is being jointly organized by the Indian Academy of Health Psychology; the B.Ed. and M.Ed. Special Education Department, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar; and, the Composite Regional Skill Development, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment Centre for Divyangjan (M/o Social Justice & Empowerment), in Ahmedabad, from 20th to 22nd September 2024.

     

     

    On the second day of the conference, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, graced the event as the chief guest. He elaborated on the significant initiatives undertaken by the Government of India for persons with disabilities, such as the UDID card, free coaching programmes, and other schemes.

    Further, Shri Aggarwal particularly advocated for enhancing access to science and technology education for Divyangjan, especially those who are visually impaired or deaf-mute. He said, “Divyang students should be encouraged to pursue fields of engineering, science, and technology”.

    Dr. Niranjan Patel, Vice Chancellor of Sardar Patel University, presided over the ceremony. Mrs. Pooja Patel, Board Member of the National Trust Act and EC Member of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), Delhi, along with Dr. Ajit Kumar, Director of CRC, Ahmedabad, were also present at the event. The conference director, Dr. Sameer J. Patel, delivered the welcome address, and Dr. Niranjan Patel emphasized the university’s sensitivity towards the needs of Divyangjan.

    Over 300 participants attended the three-day symposium, which received 119 research papers. The conference also saw the release of an abstract book compiling these research papers.

    *****

    VM

    (Release ID: 2057431) Visitor Counter : 63

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Measures to ensure decent homes for all

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The government will consult on a new Decent Homes Standard for the rented sectors.

    • Government to consult on a new Decent Homes Standard for the rented sectors
    • Awaab’s Law legislation for the social rented sector will be brought forward this autumn, and protections will be extended to private rented sector through Renters Rights Bill
    • Introducing new access to information requirements for housing associations so tenants can access the information they need to hold their landlords to account

    The government will consult on a new Decent Homes Standard for the rented sectors.

    The consultation, which will launch as soon as possible, will look to ensure safe, secure housing is the standard people can expect in both social housing and private rented properties.

    The government will also bring forward legislation for Awaab’s Law in the social rented sector this autumn, so hazards such as damp and mould must be investigated and remedied to set timescales. Implementing this legislation for social housing and extending protections to the private rented sector will support tenants to secure faster repairs, reducing health and safety risks.

    Alongside this we will introduce new access to information requirements for housing associations, to enable tenants from the 2.5 million households managed by housing associations to hold their landlords to account and drive up the quality of the housing and services they provide.  

    We will also introduce a Competence and Conduct standard for the social rented sector that will ensure staff have the right skills, behaviours and experience to carry out the role they have in supporting often some of the most vulnerable in our society. The new standard, which will include qualification requirements for senior managers and executives, will help to raise standards across the sector, ensuring tenants receive a professional service and are treated with respect and dignity.

    The government will bring forward further plans for high quality housebuilding through the revised National Planning Policy Framework this autumn, following the NPPF consultation which closes on 24 September.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More than 30 arrests in crackdown on Common Travel Area abuse

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A three-day crackdown against people-smuggling gangs saw 31 arrests.

    A Home Office crackdown against people-smuggling gangs and people exploiting the Common Travel Area (CTA) has led to the arrest of 31 people in multiple locations across the UK.  

    As the government steps up its pursuit against the criminal groups abusing our borders on all fronts, Immigration Enforcement teams, alongside UK police forces and international partners, descended on locations in the UK including Belfast, Scotland, Liverpool and Luton as part of a three-day operation.   

    Checks were conducted at major ports, airports, and road networks across the country, targeting illegal migration and disrupting smuggling routes. Ruthless criminal gangs, operating both in the UK and internationally, often exploit vulnerable migrants, charging them thousands of pounds to enter the UK illegally, luring them with false promises of a better life.  

    During the operation, £400,000 of criminal cash and 10 fraudulent identity documents were seized. These documents, which are critical tools used by people-smuggling gangs, enable them to evade immigration controls. Created by criminal networks, counterfeit documents allow migrants to bypass border checks, trapping vulnerable people in further illegal activities. By exploiting these people, the gangs not only profit but also place them at risk of severe legal and personal consequences.  

    The multi-agency operation was led by Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigations team in Northern Ireland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the National Crime Agency (NCA), other UK police forces, and international partners.  

    This operation is part of a national effort to stop irregular migration and human trafficking at key entry points across the UK, as the government works to tackle people-smuggling gangs and bring those exploiting vulnerable people to justice.  

    Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle, said:  

    This government will not stand by as criminal gangs exploit vulnerable people, risking their lives and giving them false hopes of a better life in the UK. Driven by greed, these gangs have no regard for human life or safety, charging outrageous fees, preying on those desperate to escape hardship, and forcing them into illegal and dangerous situations.  

    We are taking the fight to them on all fronts under the leadership of our new Border Security Commander. Dismantling the business models of these gangs does not just apply to the small boats trade – we are also stamping out other routes into the UK to bring them to justice and slash their profits.” 

    Home Office Immigration Enforcement Inspector, Jonathan Evans, said:  

    This operation has been a huge success and sends a clear message that the smuggling gangs who break our laws will face serious consequences.  

    We are taking action day in, day out to ensure we stay a step ahead of these criminal groups, disrupting them at the earliest possible stage. We will continue working relentlessly to ensure no one abuses the Common Travel Area or the UK’s borders.  

    I’m incredibly proud of our teams across the country, as well as our partners from the police, the National Crime Agency, and international counterparts, for their hard work and collaboration in carrying out this important operation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 22 September 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government urges caution amid severe snowfall and road closures

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Government is advising against any travel on the roads hit by heavy snowfall that affected Gauteng, the Free State, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

    While most of the roads have been cleared of snow and motorists who were trapped have been rescued, mop-up operations are still ongoing. 

    This after heavy snowfall caused havoc on the N3 toll route and other regional roads on Friday night, leaving scores of motorists, including truck drivers and bus commuters, stranded. 

    According to the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), the N3 toll route remains closed to incoming traffic, apart from the section between Van Reenen’s Pass and the vicinity of Swinburne and Montrose for rescue and recovery operations. 

    “Progress with clearing Van Reenen’s Pass is steady, and it is badly affected by abandoned trucks that are being cleared. Therefore, the Van Reenen’s Pass is still closed as rescue and recovery continues,” the statement read. 

    Both Wilge and Tugela plazas are currently closed to traffic, while the N5 from Bethlehem to Harrismith is open, though dangerous driving conditions persist 30 km from Harrismith due to melting snow. 

    “Travel on this route is strongly discouraged,” the GCIS stressed. 

    The R57 from Kestell to the R714 junction is open with dangerous conditions, while traffic is also flowing from the same junction from Bethlehem to Warden but melting snow is causing hazardous driving conditions. 

    The N11 route is open between Ladysmith and Volksrust. However, according to the GCIS, it is very misty through Majuba Pass, making it difficult to drive and citizens along this route are urged to stay at home. 

    “All passes in the Eastern Cape have been opened for motorists. However, government appeals to motorists to be cautious as the road is still slippery.”

    Government also warned that affected provinces are still experiencing snowfall and heavy mist, and fog is limiting visibility. 

    “Citizens are urged to remain patient and cancel travel on closed routes.” 

    In addition, emergency teams continue to work on clearing the snow and restoring accessibility. 

    “Government will advise when conditions of the roads have improved and declared safe for use.” 

    The State, through the coordinated efforts of disaster management authorities and emergency services, continues to respond to the situation to provide the required assistance. 

    These include the South African Police Service (SAPS), the South African National Roads Agency (Sanral), the N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). 

    Stranded road users

    Meanwhile, the GCIS said all stranded road users along the N3 toll route have now been assisted. 

    “Government extends its appreciation to the assistance by humanitarian organisations for the relief.” 

    Emergency provisions and medical support are being distributed in all affected provinces, and additional air support will be provided as soon as weather conditions permit. 

    “The public is encouraged to stay informed by tuning in to local radio stations and checking government social media channels for the latest updates on road closures and relief efforts.” 

    Borders

    Regarding ports of entry, the Border Management Authority (BMA) and its partners have temporarily closed certain ports as a safety precaution. 

    “However, operations have now resumed at all ports of entry that were affected by the snowfall, except for the Sani Pass due to the melting snow, which is causing roads to be slippery.” 

    Travellers seeking to enter Lesotho are advised to use the Ficksburg Port, Caledonspoort, Makhaleng, Boesmansnek, Monontsha and Maseru as alternative ports of entry. 

    “Those who are trapped in the snow must remain in their vehicles, signal for help, and wait for assistance from disaster management authorities and police. It is safer to stay inside your vehicle and wait for help.” 

    In addition, citizens are advised not to leave their vehicles to search for assistance unless help is visible within a reasonable distance. 

    “Government thanks all citizens for their cooperation during this challenging time and urges patience and adherence to safety precautions to minimise any further impact of these severe weather conditions. Stay home, stay informed and stay safe,” the GCIS said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Forrest Glade — Update: Missing man found deceased

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The 76-year-old man who was reported missing yesterday in Annapolis District has been found deceased.

    The death is not believed to be suspicious in nature and, the investigation is ongoing.

    Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this difficult time.

    File #: 2024-1396030

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SIU welcomes extradition of Michael Lomas

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Sunday, September 22, 2024

    The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the extradition of entrepreneur Michael Lomas concerning Eskom’s R745 million Kusile power plant allegations of fraud, unauthorised rewards, corruption and money laundering. 

    Lomas was arrested in April 2021. He is one of five accused of the alleged crimes. 

    READ | Former PRASA engineering head’s sentence a blow against corruption

    His co-accused are former Eskom Group Executive for Group Capital Division, Abram Masango; former Eskom Senior Manager for Group Capital Division, France Hlakudi; the owner of Tubular Construction Project Antonio José Trindade, and the owner of Babinatlou Business Services Hudson Kgomoeswana. 

    The arrests follow an intensive investigation by the SIU at Eskom, which uncovered evidence of criminal actions involving five accused individuals. This evidence, gathered under the SIU Act, was referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (Hawks) for further action. 

    “The investigation, initiated in 2018 under Proclamation R11, focuses on Eskom’s procurement and contracting processes and related payments. 

    “The SIU applauds the diligent work of the NPA’s Investigating Directorate, Hawks and international partners, whose collaboration has led to this critical milestone.

    “The SIU will continue to support the prosecutorial process and ensure that all individuals implicated in corruption are brought to justice in accordance with the law.

    “This extradition is part of implementing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which sees law enforcement agencies coming together to eradicate corruption in South Africa and ensure the continued cleaning up of State-owned Entities, like Eskom, from corruption,” said the SIU. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Joly one year after Azerbaijan’s military operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region

    Source: Government of Canada News

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: “Last week marked one year since Azerbaijan launched its military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region populated by ethnic Armenians for centuries.

    September 22, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement:

    “Last week marked one year since Azerbaijan launched its military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region populated by ethnic Armenians for centuries.

    “The consequences of this operation were significant: More than 100,000 civilians, including 30,000 children, were forcibly displaced to Armenia as a result of this military operation, causing a rapid increase in humanitarian need in the country.

    “The unjustified military operation by Azerbaijan followed a nine-month blockade of humanitarian goods to the Lachin corridor, in violation of the International Court of Justice provisional measures orders.  

    “Canada stands in solidarity with the people affected by this crisis and is grateful to Armenia for opening its doors. That is why, in 2023, we dedicated more than $3.9 million in humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs stemming from the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

    “Canada continues to call for, and support, meaningful negotiations toward a comprehensive peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the continuation of dialogue and confidence-building measures between the parties for a just and durable peace for the people of this region.

    “Canada has repeatedly called for the unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners of war from the 2020 Karabakh war. We also continue to call for the release of all arbitrarily detained ethnic Armenians from Azerbaijan.  

    “Canada supports a negotiated political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and promotes the principles of non-use of force, the respect of the territorial integrity and the right for self-determination in the negotiation of a just and durable peace for the people of this region. This should entail a safe and dignified right of return of Armenian civilians, guarantees the protection of human rights and civic livelihoods, and the preservation of Armenian cultural and historical sites in the territory.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Statement by Minister Joly one year after Azerbaijan’s military operation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement: “Last week marked one year since Azerbaijan launched its military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region populated by ethnic Armenians for centuries.

    September 22, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, today issued the following statement:

    “Last week marked one year since Azerbaijan launched its military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region populated by ethnic Armenians for centuries.

    “The consequences of this operation were considerable: more than 100,000 civilians, including 30,000 children, were forcibly displaced in Armenia as a result of this military operation, leading to a rapid increase in humanitarian needs in the country.

    “Azerbaijan’s unjustified military operation followed a 9-month blockade of humanitarian goods to the Lachin corridor, in violation of provisional measures orders issued by the International Court of Justice.

    “Canada stands in solidarity with those affected by this crisis and is grateful to Armenia for opening its doors. That is why, in 2023, we have committed more than $3.9 million in humanitarian assistance to address urgent needs arising from the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

    “Canada continues to call for and support meaningful negotiations towards a comprehensive peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and encourages continued dialogue and confidence-building measures between the parties to achieve a just and lasting peace for the people of the region.

    “Canada has repeatedly called for the unconditional release of all Armenian prisoners from the 2020 Karabakh war. We also continue to call for the release of all ethnic Armenians arbitrarily detained in Azerbaijan.

    “Canada supports a negotiated political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and promotes the principles of non-use of force, respect for territorial integrity and the right to self-determination in negotiating a just and lasting peace for the peoples of the region. This should include a safe and dignified right of return for Armenian civilians, guarantees for the protection of the fundamental rights and livelihoods of citizens, and the preservation of Armenian cultural and historical sites in the territory.”

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Announcement of the appointment of the Government.

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

    The composition of the Government resulting from the decree signed today on the proposal of the Prime Minister, responsible for Ecological and Energy Planning, is as follows:

    Ministers:

    Mr. Didier MIGAUD, Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice;

    Ms. Catherine VAUTRIN, Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization;

    Mr. Bruno RETAILLEAU, Minister of the Interior;

    Ms. Anne GENETET, Minister of National Education;

    Mr. Jean-Noël BARROT, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs;

    Ms. Rachida DATI, Minister of Culture;

    Mr. Sébastien LECORNU, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans;

    Ms. Agnès PANNIER-RUNACHER, Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention;

    Mr. Antoine ARMAND, Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry;

    Ms. Geneviève DARRIEUSSECQ, Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare;

    Mr. Paul CHRISTOPHE, Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men;

    Ms. Valérie LÉTARD, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal;

    Ms. Annie GENEVARD, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry;

    Ms. Astrid PANOSYAN-BOUVET, Minister of Labor and Employment;

    Mr. Gil AVÉROUS, Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life;

    Mr. Patrick HETZEL, Minister of Higher Education and Research;

    Mr. Guillaume KASBARIAN, Minister of Civil Service, Simplification and Transformation of Public Action;

    Mr. François-Noël BUFFET, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for Overseas Territories;

    Mr. Laurent SAINT-MARTIN, Minister to the Prime Minister, responsible for the Budget and Public Accounts.

    Ministers Delegate:

    To the Prime Minister and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

    Mr. Benjamin HADDAD, responsible for Europe;

    To the Prime Minister:

    Ms Nathalie DELATTRE, responsible for Relations with Parliament;

    Ms Maud BREGEON, Government spokesperson;

    Ms. Marie-Claire CARRÈRE-GÉE, responsible for Government Coordination;

    To the Minister for Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization:

    Mrs. Françoise GATEL, responsible for Rural Affairs, Trade and Crafts;

    Mr. François DUROVRAY, responsible for Transport;

    Mr. Fabrice LOHER, responsible for the Sea and Fisheries;

    To the Minister of the Interior:

    Mr. Nicolas DARAGON, responsible for daily security;

    To the Minister of National Education:

    Mr. Alexandre PORTIER, responsible for Academic Success and Professional Education;

    To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

    Ms Sophie PRIMAS, responsible for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad;

    To the Minister of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention:

    Ms. Olga GIVERNET, responsible for Energy;

    To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:

    Mr. Marc FERRACCI, responsible for Industry;

    Ms Marie-Agnès POUSSIER-WINSBACK, responsible for the Social and Solidarity Economy, Profit-Sharing and Participation;

    Ms. Marina FERRARI, responsible for the Tourism Economy;

    To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:

    Ms. Agnès CANAYER, responsible for Family and Early Childhood.

    Secretaries of State:

    To the Minister of the Interior:

    Mr. Othman NASROU, responsible for Citizenship and the Fight against Discrimination;

    To the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs:

    Mr. Thani MOHAMED SOILIHI, responsible for Francophonie and International Partnerships;

    To the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry:

    Ms. Laurence GARNIER, responsible for Consumption;

    To the Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men:

    Ms. Salima SAA, responsible for Equality between women and men;

    To the Minister of Higher Education and Research:

    Ms. Clara CHAPPAZ, responsible for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology.

    The President of the Republic will bring together all members of the Government for a Council of Ministers which will be held on Monday, September 23 at 3:00 p.m.

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

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Body located in search for missing man Bret Hill

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police were notified about 1.40pm on Sunday that a body had been located by a member of the public near the Birchville Dam in Upper Hutt.

    Formal identification has established the body is that of missing Upper Hutt man Bret Hill.

    We extend our sympathies to his family and friends.

    Mr Hill’s body was removed yesterday afternoon, and a scene examination was carried out.

    His death will be referred to the Coroner.

    We would like to thank the members of the public who assisted Police and provided information during the search for Mr Hill.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: United Christian Hospital appeals to public for missing patient

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

         â€‹A spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following appeal today (September 23) regarding a patient leaving the hospital without notification:

         An 80-year-old male patient with dementia was sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of UCH at around 9pm yesterday (September 22) by ambulance. While waiting for consultation, the patient left the Accident and Emergency Department without notification at around 11.30pm.

         Security guards were deployed to search for the patient within the hospital compound and in the vicinity. The hospital also made a report to the Police for assistance. The patient is yet to be located. The hospital is very concerned about the incident and will fully cooperate with the Police in order to locate the patient.

         The patient is about 1.6 metres tall, with short white hair and has a slim build. CCTV footage showed that the patient was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, black trousers and black shoes when he left. The hospital appeals to the public to contact the hospital at 3949 4002 or the Police if they know the whereabouts of the patient.

         The hospital has reported the incident to the Hospital Authority Head Office through the Advance Incident Reporting System.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: With all these defamation lawsuits, what ever happened to free speech?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Clift, Lecturer in Law, The University of Melbourne

    Shutterstock

    It seems like the dust barely settles from the latest high-profile defamation stoush before the next set of litigants straps on the gloves and steps into the ring.

    Many of these cases raise eyebrows — and questions. Was that story about him? Does anyone remember that tweet? Wasn’t it just harmless banter? Didn’t she respond to that allegation? What if it’s all true? Isn’t that free speech? How much did you say this will cost?!

    Defamation law continues to loom large over public conversations, despite recent law reforms aimed at remedying Australia’s unwanted reputation as the “defamation capital of the world”.

    At the heart of defamation law lies a tension between protecting reputation and maintaining freedom of speech. The more robustly defamation law protects reputation, the more it constrains speech.

    Free speech is valued in Australian law, politics and society, notwithstanding our lack of an explicit constitutional speech right. So why does our defamation law facilitate seven-figure lawsuits over communicative slights that, at times, seem disproportionately minor?

    What shapes these laws?

    Defamation law is old — very old — with roots in English law half a millennium ago. For several hundred years it existed in parallel with publishing monopolies, political and moral censorship, and fears that loose talk could stoke public disorder.

    In other words, our defamation law substantially predates modern conceptions of civil and political rights. Some of its features, like strict rather than fault-based liability (the plaintiff need not prove anything about the defendant’s intentions or degree of care), retain the flavour of less liberal times.

    Libel laws in the western world, as seen here in the US in the 1730s, are very old.
    Library of Congress

    Still, defamation has developed over the years and adapted with transplantation to other legal systems.

    The defamation laws of different places are influenced by factors such as community values, prevailing views on the value of speech, the nature and democratic credentials of the political system, and the role of law and the constitution in regulating citizens and the state.

    For example, the United States is culturally and historically predisposed to liberty and suspicion of government. The freedom to discuss and debate public affairs is seen as essential to its democratic system. The First Amendment to the US Constitution is the world’s most famous free speech law.

    Accordingly, US courts have limited defamation on matters of public concern to deliberate or reckless lies, while opinions on any newsworthy topic are immune from suit. This is because US democracy requires the “marketplace of ideas” to be minimally constrained and largely self-regulating.

    On the other hand, less democratic states have kept their defamation laws strict, to suppress political dissent and silence critical media.

    A case in point is Singapore, which, under founding father Lee Kwan Yew and his perpetually-in-power People’s Action Party, has weaponised defamation law against political opposition and the press.



    Read more:
    With more lawsuits potentially looming, should politicians be allowed to sue for defamation?

    That is not to say that less defamation law is automatically better than more. The interest in maintaining a (deserved) good reputation is legitimate. And speech anarchism can allow low-value and harmful speech to flourish.

    The High Court of Australia has shied away from US-style speech liberalism for fear it could facilitate speech that is harmful to the integrity of political discourse: a prescient position given recent US history. The English courts have done similarly, influenced by distrust of the tabloid press.

    But when reputation and speech fall out of balance, defamation law risks infringing both democratic values and fundamental rights.

    Legal balancing acts

    Around the turn of the millennium, English defamation law reached a crossroads. Its relative stasis had turned the United Kingdom into a “libel tourism” hotspot, and the UK was falling behind on the speech protections mandated by the European Convention on Human Rights.

    So the UK courts moved to better protect publishers by creating a new defence for responsible publication in the public interest. That was followed in 2013 by a new Defamation Act to further simplify, clarify and rebalance defamation law.

    Australia, lacking the same constitutional or convention impetus, has been slow to follow suit. The states agreed to harmonise their disparate defamation laws only in 2005, and it was 2021 before they found the appetite to improve them.

    By then, Australia had taken over the UK’s mantle as the preferred destination for defamation plaintiffs.

    Australia’s 2021 reforms included a new defence for publication of public-interest material, which generated some excitement but hasn’t substantially liberated the media from defamation threats. It amounts to tinkering around the edges of law, which remains conservative at its core.

    Today, from a practical standpoint, the biggest problem with defamation may be its cost.

    Legal advice and correspondence are expensive, settlements more so, and the cost of litigation can be eye-watering. It’s one problem if you can’t afford to assert your legal rights; it’s quite another to be slapped with an unexpected complaint. Defamation disputes can easily bankrupt individuals and exhaust media budgets.



    Read more:
    Why defamation suits in Australia are so ubiquitous — and difficult to defend for media organisations

    Legal consequences can act as an incentive for better journalism, but they also chill public-interest reporting. Even a journalist assured of their facts will find proving them in court to be a different matter. And a win does not guarantee full recovery of costs, let alone time and stress.

    The debate over defamation law reform is ongoing. The central question remains how best to balance the interest in reputation with the benefits of free speech. The answers depend on what we really value, and what our commitment to liberal democracy really requires.

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

    – ref. With all these defamation lawsuits, what ever happened to free speech? – https://theconversation.com/with-all-these-defamation-lawsuits-what-ever-happened-to-free-speech-238312

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 6 Whangamoa closed following serious crash

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    UPDATE 9:40 pm: State Highway 6 is now open under stop/go traffic management and a 30’km/h temporary speed limit following a serious crash on the Whangamoa Hill earlier this evening.
    Drivers can expect delays when travelling through the crash site until the highway is fully reopened.

    UPDATE 8:15 pm:

    State Highway 6 remains closed this evening, with emergency services and contractors attend a serious crash on the Whangamoa Hill. State Highway 6 is closed to all traffic between Hira and the Rai Valley and is expected to remain closed until the Police Serious Crash Unit completes its investigation.

    Drivers must avoid the area, delay their travel, or detour via State Highway 63 Wairau Valley and St Arnaud.

    6:15pm:

    State Highway 6 is closed between Nelson and Blenheim this evening as emergency services and contractors attend a serious crash on the Whangamoa Hill.
    The single-vehicle crash, which occurred near the Kokorua Road intersection, was reported around 5 pm.

    The highway is closed in both directions and is expected to remain closed for several hours while the Police Serious Crash Unit investigates.

    There are no available local road detours, and the only route between Nelson and Blenheim is via State Highway 63 – St Arnaud and the Wairau Valley.

    This significantly longer route can add over 30 minutes or more to travel times. Drivers must factor this into their travel plans, particularly those with ferry connections in Picton.

    Road users must avoid the area and should consider delaying their journeys.

    Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA Waka Kotahi website:

    Highway Conditions – Nelson Marlborough(external link)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Youths steal car at fast-food outlet

    Source: South Australia Police

    Police are investigating following an aggravated robbery in the northern suburbs late last night.

    Just before midnight on Monday 23 September, patrols were called to Curtis Road at Munno Para after reports of a robbery.

    Police will allege a group of youths approached a man who was leaving a fast-food restaurant.  The group made conversation with the man as he got into the driver’s seat of his car.  One youth prevented him from closing his door and assaulted him.

    The victim exited the car, and a teen has threatened him with a paper cutter and grabbed his phone and car keys from his hands.

    The group all got into the car, a dark blue Toyota Corolla Sedan with registration S874CHG, and were last seen heading east on Curtis Road.

    The victim, a 27-year-old man from Marion, was taken to hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.

    Police are investigating and ask anyone who spots the stolen dark blue coloured Toyota Corolla Sedan with registration S874CHG to contact the police assistance line on 131 444.

    If anyone has information about the incident they are asked to contact Crime Stoppers.  You can anonymously provide information to Crime Stoppers online at https://crimestopperssa.com.au or free call 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Returning to scene of crime lands one in court

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    A man who stole a car then used it to ram his way out of the victim’s garage has been arrested after he returned back to the scene of the crime.

    At about 1.20am, a man allegedly entered a property in Grove Road, Papakura.

    Counties Manukau South Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Matt Hoyes, says the alleged offender has gone into the garage and hoped inside a Toyota Funcargo which was parked inside, using it to ram his way out of the garage.

    “About five minutes later the vehicle returned to the address while the owner was speaking to Police on the phone.

    “The driver has quickly fled and the Police Eagle helicopter was able to gain observations, tracking the vehicle around the Papakura area.

    “The vehicle then drove around multiple streets in Flat Bush before heading into Manukau.”

    Inspector Hoyes says the vehicle was then spiked and came to a stop on Weymouth Road where the driver was taken into custody without incident.

    “This was a fantastic response from all Police teams involved to bring a quick resolution.

    “As we have said before, vigilant reporting is often be the key to Police being able to respond in a timely manner and hold people to account for their actions.

    “This also serves as a reminder to those who choose to engage in this type of offending, know that we will not tolerate it.”

    A 32-year-old man will appear in Papakura District Court today charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle and burglary.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drunken behaviour frustrates Police in Waikato

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Waikato Police are disappointed with the drunken behaviour and high levels of disorder, which crossed the line in the central Hamilton CBD overnight on Saturday.

    A total of 30 people were arrested with high levels of intoxication, obstruction and general disorder witnessed by our police staff late Saturday night.

    This is a significantly higher number of arrests than a standard Saturday night.

    Of these arrests – three people were arrested for assault, 11 for disorderly behaviour, five for obstruction and four had warrants to arrest and were actively being sought by police.

    It’s disappointing that five people physically obstructed our staff while officers were in the process of arresting others. Those offenders were themselves arrested for obstruction.

    This is a timely reminder to people to let police do their job.

    Police understand that this type of offending creates a sense of distress among our community, especially those socialising appropriately and legitimately.  

    It was a particularly busy night in the CBD with several events being held at different premises. Our staff were present in the central city from 8pm and further staff were called in to support them due to the amount of disorder taking place. 

    Several senior police staff were also on site in the CBD and checked 10 licensed premises to ensure they were complying with the liquor licensing rules.

    A total of 10 liquor ban infringements were also issued to members of the public for drinking in a public place.

    When individual behaviour affects other’s enjoyment of Hamilton’s hospitality scene, police will take enforcement action.

    With daylight savings and warmer weather ahead, the city is only set to get busier.

    Be assured police will be present in future and will hold offenders to account to stop the antisocial behaviour when it arises.

    Most of the offenders were bailed to appear in court at a later date, however those with warrants to arrest will appear before the courts today.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man caught 43km/h over the limit at Dilston

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Man caught 43km/h over the limit at Dilston

    Monday, 23 September 2024 – 9:03 am.

    A 52-year-old man from Turners Marsh will face a 3-month disqualification from driving and has been issued with a $858.50 fine after being caught 43km/h over the limit at Dilston.
    Acting Inspector Aleena Crack said police reportedly detected the man travelling at 143km/h in the 100km/h zone on the East Tamar Highway on Sunday afternoon.
    “This the second instance in a few days where police have detected a motorist travelling at such high speeds on the East Tamar Highway,” she said.
    “On Thursday police charged an 18-year-old George Town man after he was detected travelling at 163km/h in the 100km/h zone on the East Tamar Highway at Dilston.”
    “Such speeds place other road uses at risk of serious injury or death as a result of a collision.”
    “Police will continue to target dangerous driving behaviours on our roads, and urge all motorists to take care and drive safely to ensure everyone gets where they are going safely.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Police in St Helens continue to target drink driving

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Police in St Helens continue to target drink driving

    Monday, 23 September 2024 – 8:59 am.

    Police are continuing to crack down on drink driving in the St Helens area, with one driver caught twice in the same day over the weekend.
    Inspector Luke Manhood said a 60-year-old woman returned a positive breath test after she was intercepted in Beaumaris on Saturday morning for speeding.
    “She will appear in court after returning a reading of 0.153 per cent – more than three times the legal limit,” he said.
    “On Sunday, a 24-year-old man was intercepted in St Helens and returned a reading of 0.102 per cent.”
    “He was served an immediate disqualification.”
    “Police will allege the same man was intercepted again that afternoon in Scamander, and was also consuming alcohol while driving disqualified.”
    “A subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.146 per cent, and he will appear in court at a later date.”
    “Drink and drug driving are significant contributing factors to serious and fatal crashes, and police will not tolerate this behaviour.”
    “We are actively targeting drink drivers, and we urge people to remember that drink driving operations can be conducted anywhere, at anytime.”

    MIL OSI News –