NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: Philippines: ICITAP Conducts i2 Analyst’s Notebook Workshop for Key Philippine Agencies

    Source: United States Attorneys General 13

    From June 17 to 21, ICITAP conducted a five-day workshop on i2 Analyst’s Notebook, attended by seventeen (17) criminal investigators, intelligence officers, bank officers, and analysts from the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). The workshop aimed to enhance skills in managing large volumes of disparate data, importing financial spreadsheets for quick link analyses, and transforming data into easy-to-understand visual charts for actionable intelligence and decision-making. Participants engaged in hands-on practical exercises, creating link analyses to show relationships between financial transactions and persons of interest, effectively following the money trail and connecting the dots. By the end of the training, attendees were proficient in using Analyst’s Notebook to generate actionable intelligence, supporting more informed decision-making. The workshop received positive feedback, with participants valuing the practical exercises and real-world applications, which will significantly enhance their investigative efforts in crime prevention and resolution. This workshop is funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Counterterrorism. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Habeas Corpus (constitutional challenge, “Amparo”) granted against the Ministry of Energy, Mexico – BERDEJA Y BUTLER CONSULTORES, S.C.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Santa Fe, Mexico City, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Amparo en contra de la Secretaría de Energía, México

    Verfassungsbeschwerde gegen das Energieministerium, Mexiko

    Berdeja y Butler Consultores, S.C. (“the Firm”) has achieved a significant legal victory securing an Amparo against  Mexico’s Ministry of Energy, challenging its Decree imposing maximum tariffs on ‘UVIEs’ -verifiers for conformity in electrical installations to the Mexican Official Standards (“NOMs”), “the Decree”, dated September 5, 2022.

    The Amparo was granted in October 2023 and ratified on 4th July 2024 by the First Collegiate Circuit Court in Administrative Matters Specialising in Economic Competition, Broadcasting & Telecommunications.

    The illegal imposition of maximum rates discouraged the work of the UVIEs, promoted simulation, and generated uncertainty for customers, who, due to the improper actions of the authorities, believed that below-market rates were valid; that is, below the rates formally registered by each UVIE with the Ministry of Economy. In other words, the Ministry of Energy was distorting the market and services provided by the UVIEs, and their economics because they had to judicially defend themselves from the now judged illegal Decree.

    The Decree violates the principles of statement of reasons, foundation -constitutional, conventional, and legal–, legal certainty, free competition, job freedom, efficient economy, and the supremacy of the rule of law by prioritising a public interest artificially constructed by the Decree.

    The granting of the definitive Amparo will generate the following benefits: 1. Recover legal and economic certainty in the UVIE-clients relationship; 2. Remove the distortion of UVIE rates in the relevant market; 3. Eliminate the constraint on the UVIE’s job freedom; 4. Reconfirm that the powers of the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Economy are limited; it constrained their arbitrariness; 5. Clarify the difference between the regulated electricity industry and the electricity sector; 6. Enforce the international treaties to which Mexico is a party, as well as Mexico’s Constitution and laws; in summary, the rule of law in Mexico.

    There are key industries that need to be properly defended against legislative changes or acts of authority. These include energy: oil & gas, and clean energies; mining for lithium & open-pit mines; and water, particularly pre-existing or granting of future concessions. When acts or ommisions of public authorities violate human rights, the Constitution is the best defense; however, if it is also violated, Conventional mechanisms for the defense and protection of international investments can be activated.

    The Firm trusts that the next President of Mexico will promote the energy sector and the rule of law, and hopes that the administration of justice will not be adversely affected by any reform to the Judiciary Power. Likewise the Firm will continue working towards legal certainty and regulatory compliance to effectively and efficiently protect its clients’ interests, and the investment attraction of Mexico; otherwise, the Firm is ready to help defending business interests in Mexico.

    Please do not hesitate to contact Carlos Berdeja Prieto, Berdeja y Butler Consultores, S.C., carlos_berdeja@bybconsultores.com; (+52)5554362055, in case any business plan related to Mexico needed to be implemented or defended.

    #Verfassungsrecht #Amparo #ConstitutionalLaw #Energie #Energia #Energy #Mexiko #México #Mexico #JuristischeDienstleistungen #LegalServices #ServiciosLegales #Investitionen #Investments #Inversiones #RegulatorischeCompliance #CumplimientoRegulatrorio #RegulatoryCompliance #WirtschaftlicherWettbewerb #EconomicCompetition #CompetenciaEconomica

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Government meeting (2024, No. 28)

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    1. On the draft federal law “On the federal budget for 2025 and for the planning period of 2026 and 2027”

    2. On the forecast of socio-economic development of the Russian Federation for 2025 and for the planning period of 2026 and 2027

    3. On the draft of the main directions of the unified state monetary and credit policy for 2025 and the period 2026 and 2027

    4. On the draft federal law “On the budget of the Pension and Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation for 2025 and for the planning period of 2026 and 2027”

    5. On the draft federal law “On Amending Article 1 of the Federal Law “On the Minimum Wage””

    6. On the draft federal law “On insurance rates for compulsory social insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases for 2025 and for the planning period of 2026 and 2027”

    7. On the draft federal law “On the budget of the Federal Fund for Compulsory Medical Insurance for 2025 and for the planning period of 2026 and 2027”

    8. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 5 of the Federal Law “On the Peculiarities of Legal Regulation of Relations in the Spheres of Health Protection, Compulsory Medical Insurance, Circulation of Medicines and Circulation of Medical Devices in Connection with the Admission to the Russian Federation of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Lugansk People’s Republic, the Zaporizhia Region and the Kherson Region”

    9. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Compulsory Medical Insurance in the Russian Federation””

    10. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Joint Stock Companies” and Article 32 of the Federal Law “On Limited Liability Companies””

    The bill is aimed at regulating public relations related to management in joint-stock companies and limited liability companies.

    11. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Article 19 of the Law of the Russian Federation “On Space Activities” and Article 7 of the Federal Law “On the State Corporation for Space Activities “Roscosmos””

    The bill is aimed at establishing the obligation of Russian organizations and citizens who are the owners of space objects planned for launch into outer space from the territory of the Russian Federation or the territory of a foreign state (if registration is not expected in the Russian Federation) to submit information about space objects to the Roscosmos State Corporation, including their functional characteristics and technical condition.

    12. On the draft federal law “On Amendments to Articles 5 and 11 of the Federal Law “On Emergency Rescue Services and the Status of Rescuers””

    The draft law proposes to empower the Government to establish the procedure for the activities of professional emergency rescue services, professional emergency rescue teams performing blowout prevention work at drilling and oil, gas and gas condensate production facilities and underground gas storage facilities, requirements for their composition and equipment, as well as the procedure for calculating the cost of servicing drilling and oil, gas and gas condensate production facilities and underground gas storage facilities.

    Moscow, September 23, 2024

    The content of the press releases of the Department of Press Service and References is a presentation of materials submitted by federal executive bodies for discussion at a meeting of the Government of the Russian Federation.

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

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

    http://government.ru/meetings/52779/

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bergman Leads on School Safety, Introduces Bill to Secure Resource Officer Funding

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    Today, Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced the School Resource Officer (SRO) Funding Protection Act with original cosponsors Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Lisa McClain (R-MI) and support of First District State Legislators, as well as law enforcement. The bill would require states to maintain funding for SRO programs at or above the amount spent in their previous fiscal year to remain eligible for full federal aid for elementary and secondary education.

    “The horrific epidemic of school shootings requires all of us to put people above politics and action behind words in wake of these tragedies. Lagging school safety measures aren’t going to cut it – children can’t be sitting ducks, unprotected from evil intruders due to budget cuts. My bill will ensure that states maintain a sufficient budget for school resource officers and related programs, because our children deserve to feel safe and be protected,” Representative Bergman stated.

    State Senator John Damoose noted, “We have all seen the devastation caused by school violence and a spiraling mental health crisis amongst our kids. Cutting funding for school resource officers and mental health care was just plain irresponsible. I applaud Congressman Jack Bergman for taking the lead to protect our kids and doing the job our state legislature should have done in the first place.”

    State Senator Michelle Hoitenga asserted, “When Democrats in Lansing slashed school safety funding, they put Michigan’s students and teachers at risk. Congressman Bergman’s School Resource Office Funding Protection Act would safeguard our students and staff, by investing in the security and well-being of our children.”

    “Unbelievable that at a time our students need more support, the Democratic leadership in Lansing removed over 90% of the funding for mental health support in our schools. We need to support our kids. This legislative proposal by Rep. Bergman will provide important checks and balances at the federal level to ensure our children are safe at school,” said State Representative John Roth.

    “I’ve been working with my colleagues on a bipartisan school safety package, House Bills 4088-4100, to improve communication, mental health resources, and staff training in schools,” State Representative Cam Cavitt remarked. He continued, “Congressman Jack Bergman’s efforts at the federal level will provide critical support to these initiatives, ensuring schools have the tools to address threats and mental health concerns more effectively. Together, these efforts will create safer, more supportive environments for our kids, both physically and emotionally.”

    “Commonsense legislation such as this is what our kids really need instead of the political games that Lansing politicians have played with their lives. During a time of heightened security threats in our school systems, we need more safety resources and funding for key programs, not less. I commend Rep. Bergman for his work on this issue and I’ll continue to work alongside him to keep our schools safe,” State Representative Ken Borton stated.

    “As a former Special Education teacher I am troubled by the cuts in School Resource Officer funding,” State Representative Ed Markkanen added. “This legislation will ensure our schools have SRO’s present across the U.P. and the rest of Michigan.”

    Speaking to the budgetary importance of SRO funding, Kenneth Grabowski, Legislative Director, Police Officers Association of Michigan said, “Everyone wants to talk about school safety, but far too often politicians fail to put their money where their mouth is. This year, the state changed budget priorities and cut millions of dollars in dedicated school safety funding, putting our students and teachers at risk. We commend Rep. Bergman for stepping up and introducing the School Resource Officer Funding Protection Act to ensure our kids are safe at school and our SRO’s are properly funded.”

    “Funding for School Resource Officers and mental health are a critical part of keeping our children safe. Cuts in these areas make it difficult for police departments and school districts to keep this lifesaving service available in our state.  In rural communities, where police response if often delayed due to a limited amount of law enforcement, these cuts make it next to impossible to provide adequate security for our students and faculty,” Gaylord City Police Chief Frank Claeys stated.

    Emmet County Sheriff Pete Wallin expressed his support, “Our students are our future. Protecting them is one of the most important jobs we have. Restoring full funding for our School Resource Officers is critical at a time when threats are at an all time high. I applaud Rep. Bergman for introducing this badly needed legislation.”

    “As Sheriff, one of the most important jobs I have is protecting our children at our schools. I’m grateful that Representative Bergman introduced this legislation to protect our School Resource Officers following massive cuts at the State level,” said Otsego County Sheriff Matthew Nowicki.

    The State of Michigan’s fiscal year 2025 budget slashes nearly $302 million in school safety and mental health funding. The funds will be reduced to $26.5 million come October 1, 2024, a 92% decrease. Rep. Bergman’s legislation will ensure that any state which fails to maintain the required funding levels for SRO programs will see its federal education aid reduced, unless a waiver has been granted. Waivers can be granted by the Secretary of the Department of Education on a case-by-case basis.

    Read the full text of the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dingell, Moore, Murray Introduce SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

    Today, Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Gwen Moore (WI-04), along with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), introduced the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act to establish provisions that promote the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and stalking. 

    The 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work without fear of penalty, requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivors dealing with the aftermath of violence, provides access to unemployment benefits for survivors, and establishes insurance protections to support survivors–ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    “Financial abuse occurs in nearly every case of domestic violence. So many survivors are financially tied to their abuser, which ends up being one of the main reasons survivors stay with an abusive partner,” Dingell said. “Survivors have unique needs in their journey to economic independence, and the provisions in this bill will support their ability to provide for their families safely and independently, whether they choose to enter, remain, or take time off from the workplace.”

    “Domestic violence survivors shouldn’t face financial hardship as they work to pick up the pieces after experiencing abuse,” Moore said. “But too many endure a financial cost, which is why we must work to remove these barriers, so that survivors can access the resources they need. That’s why I am thankful to partner with my House and Senate colleagues in much-needed legislation to strengthen survivors’ access to health care, unemployment benefits, and paid leave.”

    “No survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault should be forced to choose between their safety and their paycheck, job, or ability to support their family,” Murray said. “Survivors who are dealing with the mental and physical impacts of assault and violence often can’t afford to miss a day of work or can’t provide for their families on their own if they choose to leave a dangerous situation. We must do everything we can to change this heartbreaking reality. The SAFE Act for Survivors Act would take a huge step toward ensuring no woman or person is stuck between worrying for their safety and making ends meet.”

    One in four women in the U.S. experience physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime and one in four women report an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Individuals who experience intimate partner violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence and stalking often find that abuse and threats follow them from home into the workplace. This type of violence has direct consequences for survivors’ economic security, which can affect their ability to recover, provide for their families, and remove themselves from dangerous situations. 

    According to the Domestic Violence Hotline,  44% of full-time employed adults in the US reported experiencing the effect of domestic violence in their workplace; 21% identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence. Domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.

    Highlights of the 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act include: 

    Increased Access to Leave

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work—40 days of leave, ten of which must be paid—without penalty in order to contend with the consequences of gender-based violence, including attending court appearances, seeking legal assistance, and getting help with safety planning. For too many victims, access to these essential services can mean the difference between life and death.

    Enhanced Workplace Protections

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits discriminatory employment practices in connection with survivors of domestic or sexual violence and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivor dealing with the aftermath of violence.

    Access to Unemployment Benefits

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims in every state access to unemployment benefits if they are fired or forced to leave their job because of abuse.

    Insurance Protections for Survivors

    1. The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse related claims, ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    A section by section of the SAFE for Survivors Act is available HERE.

    In the House, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by: Ann Kuster (NH-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Barbara Lee (CA-12)

    In the Senate, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by: Baldwin, Blumenthal, Casey, Hirono, Klobuchar, Padilla, Sanders, Shaheen.

    The SAFE for Survivors Act is endorsed by: National Partnership for Women & Families, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, Ascend Justice, Just Solutions, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Family Values @ Work, Center for American Progress, Futures Without Violence, A Better Balance, Legal Aid at Work, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, MomsRising, Center for Law and Social Policy, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, Women Employed, Project Safeguard, The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC UNITED), Family Forward, Caminar Latino-Latinos United for Peace and Equity, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence, The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

    “In Illinois, we are fortunate to have job-protected leave for survivors under the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act,” said Katherine Gaughan-Palombi, Senior Attorney of Economic Justice Project, Ascend Justice. “However, passage of the Federal SAFE Act would enhance employment protections and economic security for survivors in Illinois – such as including paid leave. It would also provide crucial safe leave and job protections for survivors across the nation.”

    “In our decades of work to enact workplace protections for survivors of gender-based violence and harassment, Legal Momentum has seen how essential these laws are to ensuring the safety of survivors. Yet, the slim patchwork of state and local laws leaves too many survivors at risk,” said Seher Khawaja, Director of Economic Justice, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund. “We are grateful to Representative Dingell, Representative Moore, and Senator Murray for their leadership in introducing a comprehensive bill that would establish federal paid safe leave, anti-discrimination protections and reasonable accommodations in the workplace, and access to unemployment insurance for survivors. These protections are at the heart of safeguarding and empowering survivors, and we are proud to endorse the SAFE Act.”

    “At The Hotline, we hear time and time again that economic insecurity is the largest barrier preventing survivors from leaving abusive situations,” said Katie Ray-Jones, CEO of The National Domestic Violence Hotline. “The SAFE for Survivors Act, introduced by Senator Murray, and Representatives Dingell and Moore, answers this call by giving survivors the protections they need—whether it’s leave from work, unemployment benefits, or increased protections—they can better focus on their safety and recovery. We commend their efforts to prioritize survivors’ economic security,”

    “Family Values @ Work is proud to support Representatives Dingell and Moore’s and Senator Murray’s SAFE For Survivors Act of 2024,” said Family Values @ Work (FV@W) Deputy Director Erica Clemmons Dean. “We have long championed and advocated for the need for paid sick and safe time for all, and ensuring victims of domestic violence have access to paid sick and safe time is good policy. For 20 years, FV@W has worked to win paid time to care for all workers. We’ve been fortunate to have the support of the Congresswomen and Senator, and are proud to endorse the SAFE Act as well.”

    “Survivors deserve the opportunity to seek the care they need to leave their abusive partner without the looming fear that they will lose their job or income, and job-protected, paid safe leave provides that opportunity,” said Jocelyn Frye, president of the National Partnership for Women & Families. “We thank Senator Murray and Representative Dingell for their tremendous efforts to protect survivors and to support vulnerable workers and their families.”

    “Survivors of domestic and sexual violence deserve paid leave from work so they can be safe and seek justice and healing while still being able to keep their jobs,” said Esta Soler, President and Founder of Futures Without Violence. “Thank you Senator Murray and Representatives Dingell and Moore for introducing the SAFE for Survivors Act and always fighting for the economic security of all of survivors.”

    “For survivors of violence, safety and economic security go hand in hand,” said Molly Weston Williamson, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress. “The SAFE for Survivors Act would give survivors the tools they need to pursue safety without compromising their economic independence, including paid, protected safe leave from work for needs like relocating to safety or accessing legal or support services.”

    “Through our free and confidential legal helpline, A Better Balance hears far too often from workers who are forced to choose between their jobs and their personal or family safety,” said Jared Make, Vice President of A Better Balance. “It is imperative to provide safe leave to workers across the United States, to ensure that survivors of domestic and sexual violence are able to stay connected to the workforce while also remaining safe.”

    Dingell has long been a leader in Congress in combating domestic violence. She has led the Strengthening Protections for Domestic Violence and Stalking Survivors Act to close the boyfriend loophole and keep guns out of the hands of abusive dating partners and stalkers. In 2018, she established the Bipartisan Working Group to End Domestic Violence to bring together a bipartisan group of members to identify ways to strengthen resources and protections for survivors and their children.

    She has been working to address funding shortfalls in the Victims of Crime Act’s (VOCA) Crime Victims Fund (CVF), the largest source of federal grant funding for victim services organizations, including organizations supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence, child abuse, stalking, and other crimes. 

    In April, Dingell led a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urging the Commission to take proactive measures to address the threat of domestic abusers exploiting connectivity tools in vehicles to harass and intimidate their partners.

    This year she co-led the Justice in Sentencing for Survivors Act, which authorizes the court to impose a sentence that is below the mandatory minimum if the offender’s crime is connected to their survivor status, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act, which bans the publication of non-consensual intimate images (also known as deepfakes) prohibits their distribution and creates a criminal penalty for doing so, and requires websites to have a removal process.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can you trust companies that say their plastic products are recyclable? US regulators may crack down on deceptive claims

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Patrick Parenteau, Professor of Law Emeritus, Vermont Law & Graduate School

    Keurig, maker of K-Cup single-use coffee pods, was recently fined for claiming the pods were recyclable. Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post, via Getty Images

    Plastic is a fast-growing segment of U.S. municipal solid waste, and most of it ends up in the environment. Just 9% of plastic collected in municipal solid waste was recycled as of 2018, the most recent year for which national data is available. The rest was burned in waste-to-energy plants or buried in landfills.

    Manufacturers assert that better recycling is the optimal way to reduce plastic pollution. But critics argue that the industry often exaggerates how readily items can actually be recycled. In September 2024, beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper was fined US$1.5 million for inaccurately claiming that its K-Cup coffee pods were recyclable after two large recycling companies said they could not process the cups. California is suing ExxonMobil, accusing the company of falsely promoting plastic products as recyclable.

    Environmental law scholar Patrick Parenteau explains why claims about recyclability have confused consumers, and how forthcoming guidelines from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission may address this problem.

    Why do manufacturers need guidance on what ‘recyclable’ means?

    Stating that a product is recyclable means that it can be collected, separated or otherwise recovered from the waste stream for reuse or in the manufacture of other products. But defining exactly what that means is difficult for several reasons:

    • Different U.S. states have different recycling regulations and guidelines, which can affect what is considered recyclable in a given location.

    • The availability and quality of recycling infrastructure also varies from place to place. Even if a product technically is recyclable, a local recycling facility may not be able to accept it because its equipment can’t process it.

    • If no market demand for the recycled material exists, recycling companies may be unlikely to accept it.

    Most plastic goods that consumers put in their recycle bins aren’t recycled, despite the “chasing arrow” label. Critics say manufacturers have deceived the public to avert plastic bans.

    What is the Federal Trade Commission’s role?

    Public concern about plastic pollution has skyrocketed in recent years. A 2020 survey found that globally, 91% of consumers were concerned about plastic waste.

    Once plastic enters the environment, it can take 1,000 years or more to decompose, depending on environmental conditions. Exposure through ingestion, inhalation or in drinking water poses potential risks to human health and wildlife.

    The Federal Trade Commission’s role is to protect the public from deceptive or unfair business practices and unfair methods of competition. Every year, it brings hundreds of cases against individuals and companies for violating consumer protection and competition laws. These cases can involve fraud, scams, identity theft, false advertising, privacy violations, anticompetitive behavior and more.

    The FTC publishes references called the Green Guides, which are designed to help marketers avoid making environmental claims that mislead consumers. The guides were first issued in 1992 and were revised in 1996, 1998 and 2012. While the guides themselves are not enforceable, the commission can use them to prove that a claim is deceptive, in violation of federal law.

    The guidance they provide includes:

    • General principles that apply to all environmental marketing claims

    • How consumers are likely to interpret claims, and how marketers can substantiate these claims

    • How marketers can qualify their claims to avoid deceiving consumers

    The agency monitors environmentally themed marketing for potentially deceptive claims and evaluates compliance with the FTC Act of 1914 by reference to the Green Guides. Marketing inconsistent with the Green Guides may be considered unfair or deceptive under Section 5 of the FTC Act.

    Courts also refer to the Green Guides when they evaluate claims for false advertising in private litigation.

    Currently, the Green Guides state that marketers should qualify claims that products are recyclable when recycling facilities are not available to at least 60% of consumers or communities where a product is sold.

    How is the agency addressing recyclability claims?

    The FTC is reviewing the Green Guides and issued a request for public comment on the guides in late 2022. In May 2023, the agency convened a workshop called Talking Trash at the FTC: Recycling Claims and the Green Guides.

    This meeting focused on the 60% processing threshold for recyclability claims. It also addressed potential confusion created by the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol, which often identifies the type of plastic resin used in a product, using the numbers 1 through 7.

    Many critics argue that consumers may see the symbol and assume that a product is recyclable, even though municipal recycling programs are not widely available for some types of resins. Other labels use a version of the symbol for products such as single-use grocery bags that aren’t accepted in most curbside recycling programs but can be dropped off at designated stores for recycling.

    The FTC has sought public comments on specific characteristics that make products recyclable. It also has asked whether unqualified recyclability claims should be made when recycling facilities are available to a “substantial majority” of consumers or communities where the item is sold – even if the item is not ultimately recycled due to market demand, budgetary constraints or other factors.

    What are companies and environmental advocates saying?

    Organizations representing environmental interests, recycling businesses and the waste and packaging industries have offered numerous suggestions for updating the Green Guides. For example:

    • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urged the FTC to increase its threshold for recyclability claims beyond the current 60% rate. The EPA said that products and packaging “should not be considered recyclable without strong end markets in which they can reliably be sold for a price higher than the cost of disposal.” It also recommended requiring companies’ recyclability claims to be reviewed and certified by outside experts.

    • The Consumer Brands Association, which represents the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Plastics Industry Association and other commercial interests, called for more research into public understanding of environmental marketing claims. To help companies avoid making deceptive advertising claims, it urged the FTC to provide more detailed explanations, with examples of acceptable marketing.

    • The Association of Plastic Recyclers encouraged the FTC to increase enforcement against deceptive unqualified claims of both recyclability and recycled content. It recommended providing stronger, more prescriptive guidance; publicizing specific examples from the marketplace of deceptive representations; and sending warning letters when companies appear to be making unsubstantiated claims. It also asked the FTC to maintain its current recyclability claim threshold at 60% and to update the Green Guides again within five years instead of 10.

    • A coalition of environmental groups, including Greenpeace USA and the Center for Biological Diversity, urged the commission to codify the Green Guides into binding rules. They also argued that for goods that require in-store drop-off, companies should have to prove that processors can capture and recycle at least 75% of the material.

    The FTC has not set a date for publishing a final version of the revised Green Guides. All eyes will be on the agency to see how far it is willing to go to police recycling claims by manufacturers in this $90 billion U.S. industry.

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

    – ref. Can you trust companies that say their plastic products are recyclable? US regulators may crack down on deceptive claims – https://theconversation.com/can-you-trust-companies-that-say-their-plastic-products-are-recyclable-us-regulators-may-crack-down-on-deceptive-claims-239156

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police drill down on pair following aggravated robbery

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have unscrewed a pair’s plans after two men allegedly stole tools from a hardware shop and presented a firearm at store workers in East Tāmaki yesterday.

    Detective Inspector Karen Bright, from Counties Manukau CIB, says the incident at a commercial address on Harris Road was reported to Police at around 3.42pm yesterday.

    “A man has entered the store and walked around for close to an hour before allegedly leaving the store with tools that weren’t paid for.

    “Two employees have then chased after the alleged offender as he was leaving.”

    Detective Inspector Bright says the man has run to a vehicle where another man was waiting.

    “The person in the car is alleged to have presented an imitation firearm towards the workers before the pair fled in a black Subaru.

    “Our staff managed to track the vehicle and the Police Eagle helicopter quickly located at an address on Kemble Close, Māngere.

    “They have attempted to leave that address, however an armed vehicle stop was conducted and both males were taken into custody.”

    She says the stolen power tools and a replica pistol were located.

    “This was exceptional work by the officers involved, and thankfully no one was injured.

    “But this incident should serve as a reminder, we take any incident where there are threats of violence or presentation of firearms towards the community seriously.”

    Two men, aged 38 and 27, will appear in Manukau District Court on Thursday facing charges including aggravated assault, shoplifting and presenting an object like a firearm.

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moore, Murray, and Dingell Introduce the SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)

    Moore, Murray, and Dingell Introduce the SAFE for Survivors Act to Provide Economic Security for Domestic Violence Survivors  

    The Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act of 2024 addresses economic barriers faced by survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, ensures 40 days of leave for victims—10 of which must be paid

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced the Security and Financial Empowerment (SAFE) for Survivors Act to establish provisions that promote the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence, and stalking. 

    “Domestic violence survivors shouldn’t face financial hardship as they work to pick up the pieces after experiencing abuse,” Congresswoman Moore said. “But too many endure a financial cost, which is why we must work to remove these barriers, so that survivors can access the resources they need. That’s why I am thankful to partner with my House and Senate colleagues in much-needed legislation to strengthen survivors’ access to health care, unemployment benefits, and paid leave.”

    “No survivor of domestic violence or sexual assault should be forced to choose between their safety and their paycheck, job, or ability to support their family,” Senator Murray said. “Survivors who are dealing with the mental and physical impacts of assault and violence often can’t afford to miss a day of work or can’t provide for their families on their own if they choose to leave a dangerous situation. We must do everything we can to change this heartbreaking reality. The SAFE Act for Survivors Act would take a huge step toward ensuring no woman or person is stuck between worrying for their safety and making ends meet.”

    “Financial abuse occurs in nearly every case of domestic violence. So many survivors are financially tied to their abuser, which ends up being one of the main reasons survivors stay with an abusive partner,” Congresswoman Dingell said. “Survivors have unique needs in their journey to economic independence, and the provisions in this bill will support their ability to provide for their families safely and independently, whether they choose to enter, remain, or take time off from the workplace.”

    The 2024 SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work without fear of penalty, requires that employers provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivors dealing with the aftermath of violence, provides access to unemployment benefits for survivors, and establishes insurance protections to support survivors–ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    One in four women in the U.S. experience physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime and one in four women report an attempted or completed rape during their lifetime. Individuals who experience intimate partner violence, sexual assault, gender-based violence and stalking often find that abuse and threats follow them from home into the workplace. This type of violence has direct consequences for survivors’ economic security, which can affect their ability to recover, provide for their families, and remove themselves from dangerous situations. 

    According to the Domestic Violence Hotline,  44% of full-time employed adults in the US reported experiencing the effect of domestic violence in their workplace; 21% identified themselves as victims of intimate partner violence. Domestic violence issues lead to nearly 8 million lost days of paid work each year, the equivalent of over 32,000 full-time jobs.

    Highlights of the 2024 SAFE Act include: 

    Increased Access to Leave

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims to take time off from work—40 days of leave, ten of which must be paid—without penalty in order to contend with the consequences of gender-based violence, including attending court appearances, seeking legal assistance, and getting help with safety planning. For too many victims, access to these essential services can mean the difference between life and death.

    Enhanced Workplace Protections

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits discriminatory employment practices in connection with survivors of domestic or sexual violence and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to assist survivor dealing with the aftermath of violence.

    Access to Unemployment Benefits

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act allows victims in every state access to unemployment benefits if they are fired or forced to leave their job because of abuse.

    Insurance Protections for Survivors

    • The SAFE for Survivors Act prohibits denial or restriction of insurance coverage based on the status of the applicant or insured regarding abuse or abuse related claims, ensuring that victims are not punished for their abusers’ crimes.

    A section by section of the SAFE for Survivors Act is available HERE.

    In addition to Murray, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by Senators Baldwin, Blumenthal, Casey, Hirono, Klobuchar, Padilla, Sanders, Shaheen, and Van Hollen.

    In addition to Dingell and Moore, the SAFE for Survivors Act is cosponsored by Representatives Ann Kuster (NH-02), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), and Barbara Lee (CA-12)

    The SAFE for Survivors Act is endorsed by: National Partnership for Women & Families, The National Domestic Violence Hotline, Ascend Justice, Just Solutions, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, Family Values @ Work, Center for American Progress, Futures Without Violence, A Better Balance, Legal Aid at Work, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, MomsRising, Center for Law and Social Policy, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, Women Employed, Project Safeguard, The Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC UNITED), Family Forward, Caminar Latino-Latinos United for Peace and Equity, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, National Network to End Domestic Violence, and The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bipartisan Support Grows for Pappas Bill to Protect Veterans’ Benefits from Predatory Claim Sharks

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

    The Problem Solvers Caucus – a group evenly split between Republicans and Democrats – has endorsed Pappas’s GUARD VA Benefits Act.

    This week, the Problem Solvers Caucus – a group evenly split between Republicans and Democrats – endorsed Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01)’s Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act, which would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited claim representatives who charge unauthorized fees while assisting veterans with filing a claim for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation benefits. Pappas is a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus and has been rated among the most independent, bipartisan members of Congress.

    “Veterans seeking to access their benefits should not face another battle to do so. Unfortunately, unaccredited, for-profit companies are scamming veterans of their earned benefits under the guise of helping them, and they must be stopped and held accountable,” said Congressman Pappas, Ranking Member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC). “As we continue to implement the PACT Act and expand veterans’ benefits, it’s vital we ensure veterans can access these benefits and receive help from representatives that are accredited, engage in transparent and ethical practices, and adhere to VA regulations. My bipartisan GUARD VA Benefits Act would protect veterans and their benefits from predatory claim sharks, and as it continues to gain bipartisan support, I’ll keep fighting to get this important legislation passed.”

    Unaccredited claims representatives, or claim sharks, are not subject to VA standards. They strategically advertise their services to avoid regulatory oversight and as a result, may engage in predatory and unethical practices that target veterans and rob them of their VA benefits. Federal laws and regulations prohibit anyone from assisting a veteran in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a VA benefit claim, or charging a fee for this assistance, without accreditation from VA’s Office of General Counsel. However, VA and other federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce existing law because explicit criminal penalties were stripped from statute nearly two decades ago. This has contributed to the proliferation of unaccredited claims representatives in recent years. This legislation will discourage for-profit companies from operating outside the bounds of federal law and will give VA and other agencies an additional tool to protect veteran claimants from predatory practices.

    The GUARD VA Benefits Act has strong support within Congress and across the veterans community. The House legislation has 214 bipartisan cosponsors and companion legislation has been introduced by Senators Boozman, Blumenthal, Tester, and Graham. It has also been endorsed by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), The American Legion, National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates (NOVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), AMVETS, National Association of Counties (NACo), Military-Veterans Advocacy, Blinded Veterans Association, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, National Law School Veterans Clinic Consortium, and National Veterans Legal Services Program.

    Background:

    In February 2022, Pappas called for and received a briefing from VA on its strategy to raise awareness of and better protect veterans from these predatory practices. In April 2022, Pappas chaired a joint Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Accreditation Program for individuals who assist veterans with VA disability claims. Testimony given at the hearing highlighted the rise of unaccredited disability claims consultants who target veterans for financial exploitation and the importance of reinstating criminal penalties to deter bad actors.

    In August 2022, Pappas first introduced the Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act to reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited claim representatives who charge unauthorized fees while assisting veterans with filing a claim for VA disability compensation benefits. In February 2023, Pappas re-introduced this legislation in the 118th Congress.

    In September 2023, Pappas led a call for VA to enforce all existing protections for veterans filing initial claims for disability benefits and request additional tools they need to hold bad actors accountable for scamming veterans. In March 2024, Pappas joined a joint hearing held by the Senate and House Committees on Veterans’ Affairs to hear from Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) about their priorities for the 118th Congress. During the hearing, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) applauded Pappas’s GUARD VA Benefits Act, noting it as one of their top priorities, and urged Congress to pass the legislation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Coast Guard hosts Pacific Island partners at 4th annual Shiprider Symposium

    Source: United States Coast Guard

     

    09/23/2024 05:22 PM EDT

    HONOLULU – The Coast Guard welcomed Pacific Island bilateral partners for the annual week-long Shiprider Symposium to strengthen regional partnerships in Honolulu, Hawaii, Sept. 16-20, 2024.

    For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Backs Legislation to Empower Tenants’ Right to Organize

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    September 23, 2024
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined in introducing a crucial bill that would empower tenants to organize, participate in, and operate tenant organizations without fear of retaliation or interference in Oregon and nationwide. 
    The Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, led by Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., would amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to support the formation of tenant organizations and provide additional funding to ensure tenants have a stronger voice in advocating for their rights and addressing their living conditions.
    “People shouldn’t be punished just for speaking up when they are living in unsanitary conditions or struggling to afford their rent and make ends meet,” Wyden said. “Tenants asking for fair treatment in their own homes should have the right to advocate together, just as workers do. This bill will give tenants the protections to stand up for themselves as our country faces a housing crisis.”
    Only some tenants living in federally supported housing have a legally recognized right to organize without fear of retaliation. This unfair distinction leaves Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipients and residents of federally-assisted units in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties without the ability to organize and address housing concerns. Empowering the millions of these tenants in rent-restricted units with the ability to organize promotes stronger, more robust communities and can help improve housing outcomes and reduce eviction filings.
    Key elements of the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act are as follows:
    Expanded protections for tenant organizing: The bill guarantees families receiving tenant-based rental assistance the right to establish and participate in legitimate tenant organizations to address issues such as the terms and conditions of their tenancy and other housing and community development activities.
    Preventing retaliation and protecting tenant activities: The bill protects tenants from eviction or harassment in response to their participation in legitimate tenant organizations or exercising their rights.
    Accountability and enforcement for federal funding recipients: The bill requires public housing agencies and owners to recognize legitimate tenant organizations and respond meaningfully to their concerns. It also requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to establish enforcement protocols, including complaint-filing processes, investigation of abuses, and regular reporting to Congress to ensure compliance.
    Funding and support for tenant organizations: The bill provides dedicated funding to support tenant organizing and capacity building, ensuring tenants have the resources and training needed to advocate for their rights effectively.
    Along with Wyden, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The House companion to this legislation was introduced by Representative Delia C. Ramirez, D-Ill. 
    This bill has been endorsed by the National Housing Law Project, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Mobility Works, National Low-Income Housing Coalition, Tenant Union Representative Network, Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania, PA Fair Housing of the Capital Region, PA Fair Housing of Greater Pittsburgh, Liberation in a Generation, Policy Link, Center for Popular Democracy Action, PA Stands Up, Housing Action Illinois, and LOFTE Network, including Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Tenants Union of Washington State, the George Wiley Center, Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition, Arkansas Community Organizations, Greater Syracuse Tenants Network, New York Tenants and Neighbors, AIDS Healthcare Foundation/Housing Is a Human Right (Los Angeles), Metropolitan Tenants Organization (Chicago), United Community Housing Coalition (Detroit), and HOMELine (Minnesota).
    The text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Update: Homicide investigation, Rotorua

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    Police have charged a 52-year-old Rotorua man with murder, after a woman was located deceased at an Utuhina address yesterday.

    The man is scheduled to appear in Rotorua District Court today.

    Two people injured in a linked incident at a Western Heights address remain in hospital in a critical condition.

    Scene examinations are continuing at the Western Heights and Utuhina addresses.

    Police would like to hear from anyone who may have information about either of these incidents, who has not yet spoken to us.

    If you can help, please update us online now or call 105. Please use the reference number 240923/0552.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. 
     

    ENDS
     

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: On Sign Language Day – 2024, Union Minister Shri B.L. Verma launches several new initiatives aimed at making education and employment opportunities more inclusive for the Deaf community

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 6:03PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment (SJE), Shri B.L. Verma presided over as the Chief Guest at the Sign Language Day-2024 celebrations today, at Bhim Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi. Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary (DEPwD), graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Support Sign Language Rights’.

     

    In collaboration with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), M/o SJE, the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) organized the event to mark International Sign Language Day today. During the event, Shri B.L. Verma launched several new initiatives aimed at making education and employment opportunities more inclusive for the deaf community.

     

    Key Highlights:

     

    1. Launch of 100 foundational concept videos in Indian Sign Language (ISL) for Class 6 subjects, including Science, Social Science, Mathematics, and English.

     

     

    1. Introduction of 2,500 new sign words in the ISL Dictionary.

     

     

    1. Unveiling of the ISL Dictionary, now available in 10 different languages.

     

     

    1. Release of Deaf Role Model videos, developed by Indian Signing Hands, to inspire the community.

     

     

    1. Launch of accessible educational stories in ISL for children of all age groups, fostering inclusive learning.

     

     

    6. Inauguration of the SWAAS platform, offering access to websites of 25 National Institutes/Composite Regional Centers and the Ministry.

     

     

    In his speech, Shri B.L. Verma emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to the Divyangjan community, stating, “Sign language is not just a language for the deaf but must become a language for everyone, promoting inclusivity across society.” He stressed the importance of using sign language widely for the progress of the deaf community. The Minister also praised the talent within the Divyangjan community, noting that with the right platforms, they can amaze the world with their abilities. Referring to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, he highlighted how India’s Divyang athletes made history by securing 29 medals, a remarkable achievement. He further stated that empowering the Divyangjan community will propel India forward, in line with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.’

     

     

    Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD, emphasized the need for parents and society to learn and use sign language to better integrate deaf children into the mainstream. He also pointed out that technology and English education will play a pivotal role in helping deaf children become self-reliant.

     

     

    During the programme, Uma Kapoor from All India Foundation of Deaf Women (AIFDW), and Usha Punjabi from Indore Deaf Bilingual Academy (IDBA), shared their thoughts, stressing the importance of sign language and its continued development for an inclusive society.

     

    The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Shri Rajeev Sharma, Joint Secretary, DEPwD, Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Director of ISLRTC, as well as many students, teachers, and parents from the deaf community.

     

    Footage of the Event:

     

    Curtain Raiser Press Release:

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2057529

     

    *****

    VM

    (Release ID: 2057961) Visitor Counter : 82

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Department of Telecommunications takes key initiatives as part of the Government of India’s 100-Day Programme

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Department of Telecommunications takes key initiatives as part of the Government of India’s 100-Day Programme

    These initiatives reaffirm to expanding and enhancing India’s Telecom ecosystem, for a more digitally empowered future

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 5:53PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, briefed the media about achievements of Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecom & Department of Post) during a Press Conference held today at National Media Centre, New Delhi.  The Minister also launched ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ Application.

     

     

    The Minister apprised the media that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has successfully completed several key initiatives as part of the Government of India’s 100-day programme. During this period, DoT has made significant strides in strengthening the four goals of a developed telecom ecosystem – Samavesit (ubiquitous connectivity fuelling inclusive growth), Viksit (developed India through triad of perform, reform and transform), Tvarit (accelerated development and swift resolution), and Surakshit (safely and securely). The major achievements of 100-day programme are:

    Samavesit

    • 4G Coverage to uncovered villages/ locations across India

    Under various initiatives funded by the Digital Bharat Nidhi (Erstwhile Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)), 4G mobile coverage is being expanded to uncovered villages across India. These efforts are focused on regions such as aspirational districts, the North-Eastern region, border areas, islands, and areas affected by left-wing extremism. A total of 7,101 4G mobile towers have been commissioned by Telecom Service Providers (Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel & BSNL) under various Digital Bharat Nidhi funded 4G schemes including 4G Saturation scheme. Out of these 4G towers 2,618Towers have been made on-air since June 2024.

     

     

    • Expansion of 5G Mobile networks

    5G technology has reached almost all districts of India. As of today, 98% districts in India have presence of 5G technology thereby empowering citizens with highspeed data network. 5G networks have been rolled out in all States/ UTs across the country and more than 4.5 lakh 5G Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) have been installed across the country.

     

     

    Viksit

    • 6G Accelerated Research Assistance

    Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Bharat 6G Vision in March 2023 with the objective to be a front-line contributor in design, development and deployment of 6G technology by 2030. In line with the Bharat 6G Vision and to support India’s prominence in 6G technology and develop the 6G RAN for the world, the DoT invited proposals from academia, industry, and other bodies engaged in R&D. So far 111 project proposals have been processed for funding to expedite the research under “Accelerated research on 6G Ecosystem”.

     

    • 100 5G Labs 

    Labs with indigenously developed 5G technology are being set up at 100 institutions, equally distributed across four zones in the country. The labs are being set up with the aim of capacity building in new telecom technologies and creating use cases in various socio-economic sectors for 5G technologies in collaboration with academia and start-ups. From June 2024 onwards, 41 out of the total 100 labs have been installed making the cumulatively installed labs to 81.

     

     

     

    • Centres of Excellence (CoE) for 6G

     

    A Centre of Excellence (CoE) on “Classical and Quantum Communications for 6G” has been established at IIT Madras. Another MoU has been signed between the Telecom Centre of Excellence (TCOE) India and Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) – Visvesvaraya Research & Innovation Foundation (VRIF) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Quantum Technology, focusing on associated 5G/6G technologies. These CoE will serve as a hub for innovation bringing together industry and academic experts to collaborate on cutting edge project in advance telecommunication technologies to foster and spearhead the development and deployment of 6G technology

     

    • Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Telecom Security

    A MoU has been signed between TCoE India and National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) Gandhinagar for setting up of Centre of Excellence on Telecom Security. The MoU envisages strengthening the National cyberspace by securing the Telecom network and to develop an Indian telecom network security stack to enhance security of the nation’s communication infrastructure.

     

    • Leveraging Telecom data and capabilities to enable cross sectoral Infrastructure planning.

    Sangam Digital Twin with AI Driven Insights: Digital Twin with AI-Driven Insights is an initiative to revolutionize infrastructure planning. This two-stage initiative began with a creative exploration phase designed to build confidence among participants through networking events. Over 150 organizations and experts participated in Stage-I in the form of networking events held in July 2024, demonstrating a willingness and foundational capability to develop the envisioned ecosystem for advanced infrastructure planning. In the Stage-II of Sangam development and demonstration of specific use cases are being planned.

     

    PoC of Metro route planning: DoT, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have successfully conducted a Proof of Concept (PoC) to demonstrate the feasibility of using aggregated telecom data for metro route planning addressing privacy challenges. PoC explored solution’s flexibility to evolve and tackle ridership issues in ongoing metro projects by accurately identifying catchment areas, analysing arrival times, assessing interchange durations, utilization optimize operations, generating an Origin-Destination (OD) matrix for metro network planning and improving ongoing operational strategies. The promising results achieved endorse the Sangam Digital Twin initiative and represent a significant first step.

    • Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Telecom and Networking Products

    To boost domestic manufacturing, investments and export in the telecom and networking products PLI scheme with a financial outlay of ₹ 12,195 Crores over a period of 5 years has been initiated. So far, 42 PLI beneficiary companies, collectively invested Rs. 3,718 crores achieved sales of Rs. 57,498 crore including export of Rs. 11,506 crores and direct employment of 22,315.

     

     

     

    Tvarit

    • Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business

    MSME Certification assistance scheme: DoT launched reimbursement scheme aimed at easing financial burdens for startups and Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs) in the telecom sector. With the objective of fostering domestic manufacturing, attracting investments and enhancing exports, the scheme will reimburse up to INR 50 lakhs per startup or MSE for testing and certification costs essential for product quality and market access.

    • Revised Standards of Quality of Service

    With an objective of improving the telecom network performance, benchmarks are will be gradually tightened for key network parameters like network availability, call drop rates, packet drop rates, etc. In this regard, TRAI has released its revised regulations, “The Standards of Quality of Service of Access (Wirelines and Wireless) and Broadband (Wireline and Wireless) Service Regulations, 2024 (06 of 2024)’.

     

    • Telecommunications Act, 2023 – Enforcement and framing of rules

    In order to update the existing laws and to address the challenges of the Telecom sector, Central Government enacted Telecommunications Act, 2023 on 24th Dec, 2023. The Act replaces colonial era’s Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. Enforcement of its provisions and rules will enable effective and modern regulation of Telecom sector. It will provide clearly defined framework for Spectrum assignment and its optimal utilization, Effective and efficient RoW framework, Strong provisions for National Security and Public emergency, etc

    In accordance with section 1(3), the Central Government has on 21.06.2024 issued Gazette Notification enforcing sections 1,2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the Telecommunications Act w.e.f. 26.06.2024. The Department has also, on 04.07.2024, notified sections 6 to 8, 48 and 59(b) of the Act w.e.f. 05.07.2024.

    Draft Rules for Security related provisions have been published for public consultation. Public consultation on draft rules for Adjudication, Amateur Station Operator and Commercial Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency to operate Global Maritime Distress and Safety System has been completed. Two set of rules i.e. Telecommunications (Administration of Digital Bharat Nidhi) Rules, 2024 and Telecommunications (Right of Way) Rules, 2024 have come into force through gazette notification dated 31.08.2024 and 18.09.2024 respectively.

    • Spectrum Auction

    Spectrum Auction in 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz and 26 GHz bands was held in June 2024. A total of 141.4 MHz of spectrum in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2500 MHz bands were sold at a market determined price of Rs. 11340.78 crores.

    Surakshit

    • On-boarding State/UT Police on Digital Intelligence Platform

    DoT has developed an online secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) under Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) Project for sharing information related to misuse of telecom resources among the stakeholders on near real time basis for prevention of cyber-crime and financial frauds. Different stakeholders are being onboarded on it including Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA), law enforcement agencies, RBI, banks, financial institutions (FIs), GSTN, UIDAI and social media platforms. 32 States/UTs police, Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) have on boarded this platform during Jul-Aug 2024.

    Till date 750 users of various stakeholders have on boarded on DIP. These stakeholders include field units of Department of Telecommunications (DoT), telecom service providers (TSPs), MHA, Indian Cybercrime coordination centre (I4C), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), 32 States/UTs police, 460 banks, FIs, fintechs, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), SEBI, GSTN, IRCTC and social media platforms

    The Department of Telecommunications, through these 100 days achievements, reaffirm to expanding and enhancing India’s telecom infrastructure, ensuring seamless connectivity, promoting digital inclusion, fostering innovation and preparing the country for a more digitally empowered future.

     

    *****

     

    MG/PD/DP

    (Release ID: 2057958) Visitor Counter : 46

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Single-vehicle traffic crash, Grove

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Single-vehicle traffic crash, Grove

    Monday, 23 September 2024 – 4:30 pm.

    Sadly, a 66-year-old man has died following a single-vehicle crash at Grove in the states South.
    Police and emergency services were called to the scene about 2.00pm this afternoon.
    Initial inquiries indicate the man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, has experienced a medical episode.
    Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones.
    A report will be prepared for the coroner.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Charges – Stolen motor vehicle and pursuit – Greater Darwin Region

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have arrested a 32-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery in Stuart Park earlier today.

    Around 12:00pm, police received reports that a man had allegedly threatened multiple people with an edged weapon at a business on the Stuart Highway.

    A short time later, the offender attended a business on Presley Street and allegedly threatened a staff member with an edged weapon before stealing a vehicle and fleeing the scene.

    The stolen vehicle was later reported to be driving erratically outbound on the Stuart Highway.

    General Duties and Road Policing Units located the vehicle stationary on Gunn Point Road before it drove directly at them at 150km per hour. Members were able to take evasive action to avoid a collision.

    Police then deployed additional units including Dog Operations Unit, TRG and a helicopter to form a coordinated response to locate the offender on the ground.

    The offender had abandoned the stolen vehicle and fled into nearby bushland.

    The 32-year-old was arrested in nearby bushland at Gunn Point by TRG with an edged weapon on his person and tested positive to methamphetamine. 

    He has been charged with the following:

    • 2 x Assault with intent to steal.

    • 3 x Aggravated Robbery
    • 1 x Theft
    • 2 x Recklessly endangering life
    • 1 x Driver with prohibited drug in body
    • 1 x Driver drive under influence of drugs
    • 1 x Drive manner dangerous.
    • 1 x Drive Motor vehicle unsafe to drive.
    • 1 x Cross double white lines.
    • 2 x Person cause bushfire.

    He is remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court Tuesday 24 September 2024.

    Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Trent Abbott said, “I would like to commend all the officers involved in the apprehension of this individual.

    “This man’s actions are reprehensible and could have caused serious damage or loss to life.

    “His arrest almost certainly prevented further offending.

    “We take a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour, so if you conduct yourself in this way, you can expect to be prosecuted.

    “This man will be no exception.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Three charged following two year investigation into New Zealand’s largest cocaine shipment

    Source: New Zealand Police (National News)

    Three people have been arrested and charged following an investigation into the largest cocaine shipment to ever reach New Zealand shores.

    It has been two years since the drugs were identified and seized at Tauranga port, and thanks to a joint investigation involving Police and Customs three people, all from Tamaki Makaurau were arrested last week. 

    Two men, aged 27 and 35, and a woman aged 41 are due to reappear in the Tauranga District Court Thursday 3 October on charges including importing cocaine, possessing cocaine for supply and participating in an organised crime group.

    These arrests are the result of a joint operation between New Zealand Customs and Police, dubbed Operation Bask.

    Op Bask was launched following the discovery of 725 kilograms of cocaine imported by boat into the Port of Tauranga on Friday 25 February 2022.

    Detective Inspector Tom Gollan of the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) says: “The vessel had travelled from Ecuador, via Panama, with a container of produce loaded with cocaine, in a method known as ‘piggybacking’.”

    “Piggybacking involves controlled drugs being loaded into a container of legitimate product in an effort to avoid law enforcement,” Detective Inspector Gollan says.

    However, in this case the cocaine was very quickly detected and seized by Customs, and an investigation was launched by Customs investigators and detectives from the National Organised Crime Group.

    Today, the cocaine has an estimated street value of $253.75 million.

    More than two years later it remains the largest cocaine shipment to ever arrive on New Zealand shores, and if not detected, would have caused a huge amount of harm to the community.

    A breakthrough in the investigation was made recently, resulting in the three arrests.

    They have also been charged with a further importation of 30kgs of cocaine that arrived into the Port of Tauranga on 31 December 2021, again from Balboa in Panama.

    Customs’ Acting Investigations Manager, Nigel Barnes, says global intelligence networks and well-developed targeting methods are key to identifying and stopping this type of smuggling attempt.

    “We Identified the South American shipment as a potential risk before it arrived in Tauranga and that turned out to be the case resulting in the record cocaine seizure that we made,” Mr Barnes says. 

    “This joint operation has also provided both Police and Customs with further intelligence and insights which are clearly still producing results.

    “These arrests demonstrate the persistence and determination of NOCG detectives and Customs staff in disrupting the drug supply line.”

    Detective Inspector Gollan say Police are committed to seeing less drugs on our streets and ultimately less money going to those who intimidate and cause violence within our communities.

    “Police will continue to target those who supply drugs into our vulnerable communities, however we cannot do it alone.

    “If you see any unlawful or suspicious activity, please update us online now or call 105.”

    For assistance with drug and alcohol addiction there are several organisations available to assist, one of which is the Alcohol Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797 or online at: Alcohol Drug Helpline

    Facts
    •            725kg of cocaine imported into the Port of Tauranga via Panama on 25 February 2022
    •            Is the single largest cocaine shipment to New Zealand
    •            Street value of $253,750,000
    •            Total drug harm prevented $270,845,500
    •            Equivalent to 7,250,000 individual doses
    •            30kgs of cocaine imported into New Zealand into the Port of Tauranga on 31 December 2021, again via Panama.
    •            Street value of $10,500,000
    •            Total drug harm prevented $11,207,400
    •            Equivalent to 300,000 individual doses

    ENDS 

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: More Australians are using their superannuation for medical procedures. But that might put their financial health at risk

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Neera Bhatia, Associate Professor in Law, Deakin University

    fizkes/Shutterstock

    A record number of Australians are accessing their superannuation early on compassionate grounds, mainly to fund their own medical procedures – or those of a family member.

    Some 150,000 Australians have used the scheme in the last five years. Nearly 40,000 people had applications approved in 2022-23, compared to just under 30,000 in 2018-19 – an increase of 47%.

    Some people think this flexible use of funds is a good way to ensure people can fund their own medical needs. But more transparency and better oversight is needed.

    What are compassionate grounds?

    Since July 2018, the Australian Tax Office has administered the early release of superannuation – meaning before retirement – under certain circumstances, including compassionate grounds.

    Compassionate grounds for you or your dependant (such as child or spouse) are:

    • medical treatment or transport
    • modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate special needs for a severe disability
    • palliative care for a terminal illness
    • death, funeral or burial expenses
    • preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home.

    The medical treatment must be for a life-threatening illness or injury, or to alleviate acute or chronic pain, or acute or chronic mental illness.

    The treatment cannot be “readily available” through the public system. Cosmetic procedures are excluded.

    You also have to prove you cannot afford to pay part or all of the expenses without accessing your super, for example, by spending your savings, selling assets or getting a loan.

    People who can access other funding for the expense, such as via the National Disability Insurance Scheme, are ineligible.

    Why are people using this scheme more?

    The ATO has not explained what is driving the surge. General cost-of-living pressures may play a role. People may have fewer savings to draw on for medical procedures.

    But the treatments most commonly being accessed using superannuation – fertility treatments, weight loss surgeries and dental care – point to other systemic issues.

    There have long been issues with IVF and dental care not being readily available or funded in the public health system.

    Weight loss surgeries (including bariatric surgery) can help combat potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease. Recent research suggests there has been an overall drop in the number of Australians having bariatric surgeries since 2016. But of those, 95% are performed through the private system.

    Australians are increasingly turning to their super to fund dental care, which is not covered by Medicare.
    Pixabay/Pexels

    While early access to super can provide individuals access to critical treatment, there are issues with how compassionate grounds are defined and regulated.

    Lack of clarity

    As my co-author and I have shown, the vague wording of the Superannuation Industry regulations leaves them worryingly open to interpretation.

    For example, the meaning of “mental disturbance” is not defined.

    You may not meet the criteria of having an acute or life-threatening illness, or acute or chronic pain. But if you can show a certain condition causes you acute mental disturbance, you may qualify to release your superannuation early.

    People accessing their superannuation for IVF use this criterion, for example, by arguing they need to access funds to continue treatment and alleviate the acute mental distress caused by ongoing infertility issues.

    Two registered medical practitioners are each required to submit a report demonstrating the treatment is needed, and one must be a specialist in the field in which the treatment is required. However, the regulations do not specify clearly that the specialist should have relevant qualifications.

    In the IVF example, this means the specialist opinion can be provided by a fertility doctor rather than a mental health expert – and that person may stand to profit if they later also provide treatment.

    A closed-loop system

    Conflict of interest is another major issue.

    There is nothing in the regulations to stop a medical practitioner – such as a dentist – being involved in all steps and then financially benefiting. They could encourage a patient to access superannuation for a treatment, write the specialist report and then also receive payment for the treatment.

    Some clinics promote accessing superannuation as an option to pay for expensive treatments.

    This raises important questions about the independence of the process, as well as professional ethics.

    Medical practitioners making recommendations for early release of superannuation should be doing so on genuinely compassionate grounds. But the potential for exploitation remains an ethical concern, when a practitioner can financially benefit from recommending early access to nest egg funds.

    Transparency around potential conflicts of interest are impossible to ensure without proper oversight.

    What is needed?

    1. Mandatory financial counselling

    The ATO has warned accessing super early is not “free money”, with a spokesperson urging people to get financial advice. But the law should go a step further and make this compulsory. That way people making decisions during an emotionally charged moment can understand any future implications.

    2. Tightening of the criteria

    Greater clarity in the legislation – such as defining “mental disturbance” – would help prevent loopholes being exploited.

    3. Better oversight

    Less health-care industry involvement would promote greater transparency and independence. An independent body of medical practitioners could assess applications rather than practitioners who could financially benefit if applications are approved. This would help alleviate perceived and actual conflicts of interest.

    Accessing superannuation early may be the only option for some people to start a family or access other life-changing medical care. But they should be able to make this decision in a fully informed way, safeguarded from exploitation and aware of the implications for their future.

    Neera Bhatia receives funding from The UK Arts and Humanities Research Council for an unrelated project.

    – ref. More Australians are using their superannuation for medical procedures. But that might put their financial health at risk – https://theconversation.com/more-australians-are-using-their-superannuation-for-medical-procedures-but-that-might-put-their-financial-health-at-risk-239588

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General to visit the United States of America

    Source: NATO

    The NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will travel to New York from Monday, 23 September to Friday, 27 September 2024 to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

    While in New York, Mr Stoltenberg will meet with world leaders and high-level officials.

    On Monday, 23 September, the Secretary General will attend the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit.

    On Tuesday, 24 September, the Secretary General will attend the Transatlantic Dinner hosted by the Secretary of State of the United States, Mr. Antony J. Blinken.

    On Wednesday, 25 September, the Secretary General will take part in a commemorative event on the 20th Anniversary of the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, hosted by the Kuwait.

    On Thursday, 26 September, the Secretary General will participate in a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations.

    Photographs will be available on the NATO website.

    Media Advisory

    23 September 22:40 (CEST)   2024 Concordia Annual Summit – Concordia Leadership Award.

    26 September 22:30 (CEST)   Conversation with the NATO Secretary General at the Council on Foreign Relations.

     

    For more information:

    Contact the NATO Press Office

    For more information on the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit, please check the event’s website.

    For more information on the Council on Foreign Relations, please check their website.

    Follow us on X (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Fourth Media Law School concluded in Mostar

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Fourth Media Law School concluded in Mostar

    The Fourth Media Law School on “Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs)” is held from 18 to 23 September in Mostar. (OSCE) Photo details

    Mostar, 23 September 2024 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the EU in BiH and the Law School of the University of Sarajevo held the Fourth Media Law School on “Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs)” from 18 to 23 September in Mostar.
    During the five-day event, 18 law students from all public law faculties in BiH, along with two additional students from the region, analysed the risks and dangers of SLAPP lawsuits and their impact on the enjoyment of freedom of expression. The students participated in a simulated trial, worked on a hypothetical case, and gained valuable practical experience. Their diligence and commitment were commendable, earning them three European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits towards their law degrees.
    In addition to an accredited media law school program, a specialized Masters of Arts (MA) study will commence in the next academic year.
    Dr. iur. Zinka Grbo, the Law School of the University of Sarajevo Dean underlined that “SLAPP lawsuits as an instrument of censorship of freedom of speech and expression (of journalists and activists) are a threat to civilization.” She elaborated further “Approaching the judiciary from the position of “arms inequality” is an abuse of rights and often unjustified pressure and a mechanism of demoralizing individuals and legal entities that present information of public interest. The reasons for filing any lawsuit must be not only legally based, but also morally justified.”
    Ferdinand Koenig Head of Communications and Spokesperson of the EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina said that it is encouraging to see a continuous interest among students to attend the Media Law School. “Media law is one of the most interesting areas of jurisprudence that is continually evolving to take into account the changing media environment. This year’s school addresses the problem of strategic litigation against public participation, so called SLAPP suits. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, there are worrying tendencies for civil suits to be used to silence critics or unfavourable reporting. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a candidate country for membership in the European Union and its legislative framework needs to be aligned with European standards, including anti-SLAPP legislation. I am glad that the EU is cooperating with the OSCE and University of Sarajevo Law Faculty on the Media Law School – it is very important that students, as future legal professionals are aware of the current jurisprudence on media law.”
    “In 2021, the OSCE’s Representative on Freedom of the Media published a Special report on legal harassment and abuse of the judicial system against the media, elaborating on specific examples where the law is misused to prevent journalists from doing their work and reporting about matters of public interest”, added Jiri Rous, Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Mostar Field Office. “We are aware that this is yet to be regulated in BiH, but with the developments at the EU level and evolving international standards and case law in other jurisdictions, there is no doubt that the issue of SLAPP is becoming increasingly relevant for law students and future legal practitioners in BiH”, he concluded.
    The Media Law School is part of the broader efforts of the OSCE Mission and the EU to promote and protect media freedom.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Homicide investigation launched, Rotorua

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    A homicide investigation has been launched after a woman has died and two others have been critically injured in linked incidents in Rotorua.

    Emergency services were called about 5am this morning to a Western Heights address after a report of two people being seriously assaulted.

    They were transported to hospital in critical condition.

    A scene examination is underway, and enquiries are ongoing to determine exactly what has occurred.

    Separately, Police were called to an Utuhina address about 2.35pm to conduct a welfare check on a woman.

    Upon arriving at the property, Police located the woman deceased.

    A scene examination is also underway at that property.

    Police believe the incidents are linked, and one person is assisting us with our enquiries.

    We are currently not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter.

    Police would like to hear from anyone who has information about either incident that might assist with our enquiries.

    If you can help, please update us online now or call 105.

    Please use the reference number 240923/0552.

    Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AfD: how Germany’s constitution was designed with the threat of extremism in mind

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Green, Professor of Politics, Aston University

    German chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD has narrowly held off the rightwing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in regional elections in Brandenburg, nudging them into second place.

    The close call follows two other recent elections in Germany’s eastern federal states (Länder). In Thuringia, the AfD won the highest share of the votes. In Saxony, the AfD narrowly came second to the centre-right CDU. Importantly, the regional AfD organisations in both Saxony and Thuringia, along with Saxony-Anhalt, have officially been designated as extreme right. This means that the party in these states is formally considered by Germany’s domestic security service to be a threat to the country’s democratic constitutional order.

    Although the country’s proportional electoral system means that the AfD cannot form a government in any of the three states by itself, this is the first time since 1945 that an officially extremist party has won an election in Germany.

    It’s not unreasonable for those outside Germany to questions whether these election results show that the country once more stands on the cusp of a slide into fascism, as it did in the 1930s. However, quite apart from the fact that 2024 is not the same as 1933, there is one important structural difference: Germany’s constitution (the Grundgesetz or Basic Law). This was explicitly designed to prevent a recurrence of a totalitarian regime such as national socialism.

    The Basic Law dates back to 1949 – a time when the country was in the process of splitting into west and east. Coming into force during this period of transition, the document was only a provisional constitution. Yet the Basic Law has outlasted any of the previous three state forms since Germany was first unified in 1871. Today, it enjoys widespread popular support: a recent survey showed 81% of the population view it positively.

    In its content, the Basic Law is a living testimony to Germany’s desire to prevent a return to National Socialism. In articles 1-19, it enshrines a comprehensive catalogue of fundamental rights, which cannot be removed from the constitution. These include the right to dignity, freedom, privacy, free assembly, freedom of the press and to political asylum.

    The Basic Law also established one of the most powerful independent constitutional courts in the world. The court even has the right to ban political parties, or to limit the fundamental rights of individuals who are found to be undermining the constitutional order, as had been in the case in Weimar Germany. For this reason, Germany is considered to be a militant democracy. While the outright banning of parties is fraught with political difficulties (and hence rare historically), there is a live debate over whether the AfD’s policies and rhetoric are ultimately compatible with Germany’s constitution.

    More subtly, Germany’s governance structures are designed to make it practically impossible for a hostile grouping to seize power democratically. The German chancellor has much less power than, say, the British prime minister. In particular, the structures of federalism and coalition government further constrain the room for manoeuvre of any individual politician or indeed any single political party.

    The Grundrechte is inscribed on a wall in Berlin for all to see.
    Jakob-Kaiser-Haus/Wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    Major functions of policy implementation are delegated to powerful societal actors, such as professional bodies. These are geographically distributed around the country, along with the media, key corporate headquarters and the unions. The ability of Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank, to set monetary policy independent of political control, itself a response to the hyperinflation of the early 1920s, has made it a model for both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England today.

    In short, and in the words of the German-American political scientist Peter Katzenstein, the German state is only “semisovereign”.

    In consequence, the Basic Law is not just a document setting out the political “rules of the game”, but an expression of Germany’s values. Its longevity has benefited from the willingness of political elites down the years to adapt its provisions, where necessary, to changing circumstances. And in several respects, the past remains very much the present in German politics. For instance, the right to privacy, which was originally included to prevent the reoccurrence of Nazi Germany’s pervasive surveillance, is given new meaning in an age of global digital connectivity.

    Pressures ahead

    Certainly, Germany today faces multiple challenges. As society has evolved, Germany’s party system has fragmented, with more parties securing seats in the national parliament, the Bundestag. Of these, the AfD has been by far the most successful, and could potentially become the second largest party at the next parliamentary elections in 2025. This fragementation, which is not unique to Germany, has made the formation of coalition governments harder. Fortunately, this has so far not led to out-of-cycle national elections, of the kind which plagued the latter years of the Weimar Republic.

    And there are concerns beyond politics. From the “economic miracle” in the 1950s, Germany’s growth has slowed significantly, averaging just 1.2% per year between 2012-2022; in the last two years, the economy has barely grown at all. Compared to other advanced economies, it remains disproportionately reliant on exporting high added value manufactured goods.

    The reunification of Germany in 1990 also continues to cast a long shadow. In any number of economic and social indicators, including household incomes, religion and childcare patterns, eastern Germany remains structurally different to western Germany. Across the country, the population is ageing and, without substantial net migration over time, will decline over the next 30 years. Yet immigration also remains one of the biggest political issues of the day, and a key driver of the AfD’s electoral success.

    Nonetheless, given Germany’s difficult journey to statehood in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Basic Law remains a strong guarantor of Germany’s democratic credentials. For this reason, former federal president Joachim Gauck was surely right to declare earlier this year that the Germany created by the Basic Law is “the best that ever existed”.

    Simon Green 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. AfD: how Germany’s constitution was designed with the threat of extremism in mind – https://theconversation.com/afd-how-germanys-constitution-was-designed-with-the-threat-of-extremism-in-mind-230594

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Lebanon: grave concern of explosions & Palestine/Israel: Displaced people- Security Council Briefing

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Briefing UN Security Council members today (19 Sep) on the situation in the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process expressed his “grave concern” on the “the series of explosions across Lebanon and rockets fired toward Israel in recent days,” warning that these incidents add to the overall volatility. Wennesland urged all parties to “refrain from steps that will further exacerbate the situation and take immediate steps to deescalate.”

    In his briefing, Wennesland also highlighted the ongoing demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. He noted that over 550 people, including 250 children, had been displaced. He said, “demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned structures continued… citing the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain.”

    The Special Coordinator also expressed alarm over provocative actions and rhetoric on both sides. Urging all parties to reject such dangerous incitements, he said, “a joint statement from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad threatened a return to the use of suicide bombings… while an Israeli minister said, ‘Palestinian prisoners must be killed. Shot in the head.’”

    Helen Clark, a member of The Elders and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, told the Security Council that the current approach to managing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has failed. She criticized member states that use their veto power to “protect allies” or “obstruct geopolitical rivals,” warning that this undermines the authority of the Council.

    Riyad H. Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN, referred to a recent advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, declaring Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as unlawful. “The Court reaffirmed the illegality of Israel’s settlements… stressing the obligations of the occupying Power to cease immediately all settlement activities,” Mansour said.

    Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon said, “this Council and the world must wake up to the reality of the threat Iran poses. The dark force driving the violence we see today is not a collection of independent groups; it is Iran pulling the strings,” He said, “the Iranian proxies, Hezbollah in the North, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria and terrorist cells in Judea and Samaria, are all Iran’s attack dogs unleashed to spread death and destruction across the region.” Danon further said that Iran is not only targeting Israel but is seeking domination of the entire Middle East, while the Palestinian Authority is being “utterly weak and impotent.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONnkcIa8MYE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sherrill Introduces Legislation to Protect Reproductive Care and Abortion Access for Servicewomen

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) introduced two pieces of commonsense legislation that will improve access to reproductive care for servicewomen and military families. The Expanding Knowledge on Military Reproductive Health Care Act will help ensure that service members and military health care providers know their abortion rights, no matter where they are stationed. The Improved Contraception Access for Service Members Act, co-led by Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14),will make sure that active-duty service members can access a year’s worth of contraceptives at a time.

    “We send servicewomen overseas to risk their lives for their country. We should not be sending them to Texas or Florida to lose access to basic reproductive health care and risk their lives giving birth. That’s why I am introducing two critical bills to ensure that servicewomen and our military families know how they can access abortion care if they need it, and so our servicewomen have access to contraception regardless of where they are stationed,” said Rep. Sherrill. 

    “This issue is deeply personal to me – my daughter recently enlisted in the U.S. Navy. And I know that she and her fellow servicewomen do not have a choice where they are sent to serve. As MAGA extremists continue to implement abortion bans nationwide, we have a responsibility to ensure that women have the baseline reproductive care and rights they need,” Sherrill continued.

    “Our active-duty service members deserve the very best health care that we can provide,” Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) said. “That includes consistent and uninterrupted access to reproductive health care. The Improved Contraception Access for Service Members Act will make it easier for Americans in uniform to get the contraceptive care they need, bolstering our military readiness, improving health outcomes for service members, and lowering health care costs.”

    “This should not be up for debate: Service members and their families deserve access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health care – including birth control and abortion. As they fight for our freedoms, they too should have the freedom to control if, when, and how they build their families. To truly support our service members and military families, we must protect and expand their access to the health care they need, when they need it, free from politically motivated interference. We applaud Reps. Sherrill and Underwood for introducing these critical pieces of legislation to ensure greater access to reproductive health care for our service members and military families,” saidAlexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

    “As a practicing OB-GYN who includes abortion care as part of my practice, I have seen firsthand the struggle some of my patients face just to get to me,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide.  “Our service members and their families do not choose where they live, and they deserve access to the care they need for their reproductive well-being. These bills will help to ensure military health care providers and patients are empowered to provide and receive essential health services. We’re grateful to Representatives Sherrill and Underwood for their leadership.”

    “Everyone, including service members, deserves the freedom to make decisions about their bodies and futures without political interference. Yet, service members and their families face significant barriers to accessing reproductive health care, including abortion and contraception, within the military health care system,” said Jackii Wang, Senior Legislative Analyst at the National Women’s Law Center. “The Improved Contraception Access for Service Members Act and the Expanding Knowledge on Military Reproductive Health Care Act are crucial to breaking down these barriers. By expanding access to contraception and ensuring service members and military health care providers are fully informed of their rights, these bills help service members and their loved ones access the care they need, regardless of where they are stationed.”

    Sherrill’s legislation has earned endorsements from American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproductive Rights, Minority Veterans of America, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Women’s Law Center, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, and Reproductive Freedom for All.

    The Expanding Knowledge on Military Reproductive Health Care Act would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide service members with information on the reproductive health care, including abortion care, they are entitled to in the military health care system; how they can find reproductive care not provided by military health providers; and how they can request leave and travel reimbursement if they need to travel to another state to receive an abortion. 

    Additionally, the DOD would be required to provide doctors with information and training on their obligation to provide reproductive care, including abortions in circumstances covered by current federal law. Information for service members and medical personnel would need to be provided annually and within two weeks of a change of station.

    The Improved Contraception Access for Service Members Act, led by Reps. Sherrill and Underwood, would require TRICARE to allow active-duty servicemembers and beneficiaries the ability to access up to 365-day supplies of contraception at military treatment facility pharmacies, certain retail pharmacies, and the TRICARE national mail-order pharmacy program. This legislation would extend Sherrill and Underwood’s  Convenient Contraception Act to active-duty military families and service women.

    Representative Sherrill continues to lead in the fight for women’s health in Congress. She  stood up for servicewomen and military families against Senator Tommy Tuberville’s efforts to overturn the  Department of Defense’s abortion travel policy. Additionally, she successfully  secured an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA to codify access to year-long supplies of contraceptives to service members. Sherrill has introduced legislation to promote education about  women’s heart health, and has co-led a bill to ensure women can access a  full year’s supply of contraceptives, rather than just three months at a time. Finally, she is leading efforts to  end “judge shopping,” a tactic used by anti-abortion advocates to gain favorable outcomes.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Announces $550,000 DOJ Grant for Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women has awarded Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society a $550,000 grant. The funding will support providing legal assistance to victims of violence, among other victim services. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “Many families often do not have the financial means to afford legal assistance even in situations involving significant domestic issues.

    “This DOJ grant for $550,000 helps Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society take care of those who might suffer from domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.”

    BACKGROUND

    Started in 1972, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society is a 501c3 non-profit organization that offers legal services to low-income families and individuals.

    While headquartered in Marion, Virginia, Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society also administers two field offices in Castlewood, Virginia, and Christiansburg, Virginia.

    The funds provided will support the Office on Violence Against Women Rural Program project.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Díaz-Balart and Wasserman Schultz Lead Bipartisan Effort to Set $100 Million Reward for Arrest and Conviction of Nicolás Maduro

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), co-chairs of the Congressional Venezuela Democracy Caucus, along with Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL-28), Jenniffer González-Colon (PR-At-Large), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), and Darren Soto (D-FL-09) introduced a bill to raise the U.S. Department of Justice’s bounty on dictator Nicolás Maduro from $15 million to $100 million. The increase would be funded by assets already seized from Maduro and his regime.

    The reward would be paid out by the federal government using seized assets already being withheld from Maduro, officials of the Maduro regime and their co-conspirators, not taxpayer funds. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Florida and its federal law enforcement partners who have brought dozens of criminal charges against high-level regime officials, asset seizures total approximately $450 million.

    The Senate companion was introduced by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (FL) and Marco Rubio (FL).

    “For nearly two months since the July 28th presidential elections, in which the Venezuelan people overwhelmingly voted for President-elect Edmundo González, the Maduro regime has only escalated its brutal repression. According to reports, arbitrary detentions, torture, and politically motivated persecution – have intensified under Maduro’s oppressive rule.

    Maduro’s regime is a criminal enterprise that fuels narco-terrorism, suppresses independent media, and violates human rights with impunity. Last year, I warned that the Biden-Harris Administration’s appeasement of this dictatorship would only embolden Maduro. Lifting sanctions has endangered our national security, aiding a regime closely allied with dangerous adversaries like Russia, Iran, Cuba, and the PRC.

    Instead of easing sanctions, the Biden-Harris Administration should stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom by increasing this bounty and strengthening sanctions,” said Díaz-Balart.

    “Super-sizing the reward that leads to Maduro’s conviction will reinforce the already-decisive actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to target the criminal enterprise behind Venezuela’s election theft and the violent repression of its people,” said Wasserman Schultz. “The Biden-Harris White House deftly marshaled swift international pressure onto the Maduro regime, expanded existing sanctions, and rallied global support around this reality: Edmundo González won in a landslide and the Venezuelan people deserve to have their votes counted and rights respected. As Vice President Harris laid out emphatically in a recent letter, the United States ‘will remain steadfast with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom.’ This magnified reward for Maduro’s arrest would amplify those efforts.”

    ###

    Díaz-Balart y Wasserman Schultz lideran esfuerzo bipartidista para establecer una recompensa de $100 millones por el arresto y condena de Nicolás Maduro.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hoy los legisladores Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) y Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), copresidentes del Comité Parlamentario a favor de la Democracia en Venezuela, junto con los legisladores Chris Smith (R-NJ-4), Carlos A. Giménez (R-FL-28), Jenniffer González-Colón (Puerto Rico), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Mike Waltz (R-FL-06), y Darren Soto (D-FL-09) presentaron la Ley para Asegurar Oportunidades de Pago y Maximizar Recompensas por la Detención de Funcionarios de Regímenes Ilegítimos (Ley STOP MADURO). Esta legislación aumentaría la recompensa del Departamento de Justicia de EE.UU. sobre el dictador Nicolás Maduro de $15 millones a un máximo de $100 millones, por información que conduzca a su arresto y condena.

    La recompensa sería pagada por el gobierno federal utilizando activos incautados que ya están retenidos a Maduro, a funcionarios de su régimen y a sus cómplices, sin utilizar fondos de los contribuyentes. Según la Oficina del Fiscal de EE.UU. en el Sur de Florida y sus socios federales de aplicación de la ley, quienes han presentado decenas de cargos criminales contra altos funcionarios del régimen, las incautaciones de activos suman aproximadamente $450 millones.

    El Proyecto del Ley compañero en el Senado fue presentado por los Senadores Rick Scott (R-FL) y Marco Rubio (R-FL).

    “Por casi dos meses desde las ‘elecciones’ del 28 de julio, en las cuales el pueblo venezolano votó abrumadoramente por el presidente electo Edmundo González, el régimen de Maduro solo ha intensificado su brutal represión. Según informes, las detenciones arbitrarias, la tortura y la persecución políticamente motivada se han intensificado bajo el régimen opresivo de Maduro.

    El régimen de Maduro es un grupo criminal que alimenta el narco-terrorismo, suprime los medios de comunicación independientes y viola los derechos humanos con impunidad. El año pasado advertí que el apaciguamiento de esta dictadura por parte de la Administración Biden-Harris solo envalentonaría a Maduro y el levantamiento de sanciones ha puesto en peligro nuestra seguridad nacional, ayudando a un régimen estrechamente aliado con peligrosos adversarios como Rusia, Irán, Cuba y la República Popular China.

    En lugar de aliviar las sanciones, la Administración Biden-Harris debería solidarizarse con el pueblo venezolano en su lucha por la libertad aumentando la presión y fortaleciendo sanciones”, afirmo Díaz-Balart.

    “Aumentar la recompensa que conduzca a la condena de Maduro reforzará las acciones ya decisivas adoptadas por la Administración Biden-Harris para apuntar a la organización criminal detrás del robo electoral de Venezuela y la represión violenta de su pueblo”, dijo Wasserman Schultz. “La Casa Blanca de Biden-Harris dirigió hábilmente una rápida presión internacional contra el régimen de Maduro, amplió las sanciones existentes y reunió apoyo mundial en torno a esta realidad: Edmundo González ganó de manera aplastante y el pueblo venezolano merece que se cuenten sus votos y se respeten sus derechos humanos. Como lo expresó enfáticamente la vicepresidenta Harris en una carta reciente, Estados Unidos ‘permanecerá firme junto al pueblo venezolano en su lucha por la libertad’. Esta recompensa engrandecida por el arresto de Maduro amplificaría esos esfuerzos”.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Review of the documentation submitted to the Directorate-General for the Environment on the impact of wood pulp producer Altri – E-001704/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001704/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE)

    In its reply to my previous question regarding wood pulp producer Altri[1], the Commission points out that ‘From the information provided, the Commission cannot identify any breach of the IED or the EIAD at this early stage of the procedure.’ I would like to know what the Commission means by ‘at this early stage of the procedure’ and what documentation has been submitted so far. In line with the prevention principle, any project that could breach EU rules must be thoroughly studied. In April, the Commission met with several groups affected by the project, which provided it with a host of documents on breaches of a number of EU directives.

    • 1.Has the Commission examined the documents submitted by the affected groups at the April 2024 meeting I requested?
    • 2.Is the Commission aware that Altri’s plan goes against the Nature Restoration Law, as a result of increased eucalyptus growing and its consequences for biodiversity, soils, the River Ulla and Arousa Estuary and protected species and the impact of air and soil pollution?

    Submitted: 13.9.2024

    • [1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2024-001389_EN.html
    Last updated: 23 September 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Directive on combating corruption – 23-09-2024

    Source: European Parliament

    In May 2023, the European Commission presented an anti-corruption package, which includes a proposal for a directive on combating corruption. Based on Articles 83 and 82 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the proposal defines criminal offences and sanctions relating to corruption, one of the ‘areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension’ for which the European Parliament and the Council may establish minimum rules by means of directives. The proposal seeks to update the fragmented EU legislative framework, including by incorporating international standards binding on the EU. It addresses corruption in both the public and private sectors. In Parliament, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted its report in January 2024. The committee decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations was confirmed by plenary in February 2024. The Council confirmed its position in June. The new Parliament now needs to confirm its position before trilogue negotiations can take place. First edition. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Sh. Bhupender Yadav Congratulates 128 Bn Ecological Task Force of Territorial Army for Setting World Record by Planting Over 5 Lakh Saplings in One Hour

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Sh. Bhupender Yadav Congratulates 128 Bn Ecological Task Force of Territorial Army for Setting World Record by Planting Over 5 Lakh Saplings in One Hour

    Plantation Drive Held under Prime Minister’s ‘Ek Ped Maa ke Naam’ Campaign and TA’s ‘Bhagidari & Zimmedari’ Program

    Posted On: 23 SEP 2024 11:24AM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sh. Bhupender Yadav congratulated 128 Infantry Battalion and Ecological Task Force of Territorial Army (one of the 6 units of MoEF&CC) for registering a World Record of planting over 5 lakh saplings in one hour on 22.09.2024.

    Union Minister Sh. Yadav also congratulated multiple stakeholders including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Border Security Force, District Administration of Jaisalmer, Police and Border Wing Home Guards. Sankalp Taru NGO, and students from various educational institutions. The post on X by Sh. Yadav read as: –

    128 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Ecological Task Force of Rajputana Rifles planted over 5,19,130 saplings on 22.09.2024 from 1100hrs to 1200hrs under “Special Plantation Drive” at Jaisalmer under the Prime Minister’s campaign “Ek Ped Maa ke Naam” and the TA’s outreach program “Bhagidari & Zimmedari,” aimed to enhance ecological restoration and promote environmental awareness among the local communities.

    The event witnessed active participation from multiple stakeholders, including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Border Security Force, District Administration of Jaisalmer, Police and Border Wing Home Guards. Sankalp Taru NGO, and students from various educational institutions. The plantation drive was held simultaneously at seven different locations across Jaisalmer, demonstrating a united effort towards community development and environmental conservation.

    Under the banner of “Protect Trees” and the motto “Those who protect the trees are protected,” the Territorial Army unit achieved several world records, provisionally recognized by the World Book of Records, London. These include the most saplings planted by a team in one hour, the most saplings planted by a team of women in one hour, and the largest number of people planting saplings simultaneously at a single venue.

    The Accreditation Agency i.e. World Book of Records were present in the field and verified the plantation done and certified the achievement.  Ecological Task Force also received the provisional award from the World Book of Records after the plantation.

    *****

    NB/GS

    (Release ID: 2057728) Visitor Counter : 97

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –