NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Closer-to-nature forestry initiative and the planned EU certification framework – E-000610/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000610/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Schneider (PPE), Angelika Winzig (PPE), Alexander Bernhuber (PPE)

    The aim of the Commission’s closer-to-nature forestry initiative is to promote sustainable forest management; but it could have far-reaching consequences because of linking in with an EU-wide certification framework. Critics see in this approach a possible circumvention of national competences in the forestry sector plus creeping centralisation. The planned certification framework might also weaken established standards such as PEFC and FSC, create additional bureaucratic burdens for businesses and make access to funding more difficult.

    • 1.What are the Commission’s objectives with regard to the planned certification framework, and how will it be ensured that the subsidiarity principle is observed?
    • 2.What institutions or organisations are to carry out certification, and how will incorporation of existing voluntary standards such as PEFC and FSC be ensured?
    • 3.Does the Commission plan to link certification in with EU funding programmes, and how will it be ensured that that does not involve an additional burden for forest holdings?

    Submitted: 11.2.2025

    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Persons with disabilities in the occupied Palestinian territories – E-000618/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000618/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lynn Boylan (The Left), Kathleen Funchion (The Left)

    Disability inclusion in the occupied Palestinian territories remains a critical issue. Even after the 2025 ceasefire, life-saving humanitarian aid for persons with disabilities continues to be blocked by Israel. Many forcibly displaced people are unable to return home because of the inaccessibility of the route and checkpoints. Their homes have often been destroyed, and tented accommodation lacks basic essentials for safety and security, including accessible water, sanitation and hygiene services. Persons with disabilities face a continued shortage of assistive technology and will be disproportionately impacted by the growing mental health crisis. Children and women and girls with disabilities are at particular risk.

    How is the Commission:

    • 1.ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians with disabilities in the occupied territories, and that disability-specific requirements (such as assistive technology) are being met?
    • 2.assisting Palestinians with disabilities to return to their homes, and supporting the inclusive, accessible reconstruction of housing, transport and other public infrastructure?
    • 3.engaging with and supporting Palestinian civil society and disability advocacy groups to ensure that their voices and requirements are reflected in EU-funded work?

    Submitted: 11.2.2025

    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – New EU bulk order for 146 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine – E-000608/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000608/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gerald Hauser (PfE)

    Countless doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been discarded all over the world because they have expired or are not deemed suitable for new variants. The Commission has now placed a new order with Moderna for more than 146 million doses. It is unclear how much this order will cost and it is questionable whether it is really needed. What is more, the many side effects of the other mRNA vaccines have yet to be analysed. Many doses could be discarded yet again, which would cost taxpayers money without bringing any real benefits. It is rumoured that the Health Emergency Preparedness Response Authority (HERA) signed the contract on behalf of 17 participating countries.

    • 1.Which Member States have ordered Moderna vaccines and who signed the procurement contract?
    • 2.Why are vaccines being ordered once more – by way of an opaque procurement procedure – even though it is not certain that the doses will not end up discarded again and simply cost taxpayers more money?
    • 3.What studies have been carried out on the newly ordered vaccine to confirm that it is safe and effective?

    Submitted: 11.2.2025

    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Revised Product Liability Directive – 19-02-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    As products have become more complex in the digital age, the need for a new directive on liability of defective products has arisen. The new directive will revise the existing Product Liability Directive, adopted nearly 40 years ago in 1985. The directive brings the European Union’s product liability regime up to speed with the digital age, circular economy business models and global value chains by ensuring that consumers receive compensation for defective products, including those manufactured outside the EU. It introduces new provisions to address liability for products such as software (including artificial intelligence systems) and digital services that affect how the product works (e.g. navigation services in autonomous vehicles). It also alleviates the burden of proof for victims under certain circumstances. The new directive on liability of defective products was published in the EU’s Official Journal on 18 November 2024. It entered into force on 9 December 2024. Member States must transpose the directive into their national laws and implement the changes by December 2026. Fourth edition. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Displaced Ukrainians: Challenges and outlook for integration in the EU – 19-02-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 forced millions of people to flee Ukraine. To date, approximately 6.8°million people have had to seek refuge, mostly in the EU and its neighbourhood. The EU responded rapidly in March 2022, activating the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) for the first time ever. The TPD’s emergency mechanism offers swift protection and rights to those in need who arrive in large numbers, preventing Member States’ asylum systems from becoming overwhelmed. Rights under the TPD include access to a residence permit, employment, housing, medical and social welfare assistance, and education for children and adolescents. For those fleeing Ukraine, these rights also include travel within the EU, and to and from Ukraine. Currently, the largest number of beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine reside in Germany, Poland and Czechia. Among them are nearly 1.3 million children, with 50 % still awaiting enrolment in their host countries’ education systems. Many pupils attend online classes delivered from Ukraine, as parents prefer to keep ties with their home country. The EU and its Member States have made efforts and funds available to support the integration of displaced people from Ukraine in terms of employment, housing, education and healthcare. Research indicates that Ukrainian refugees have a high employment rate in host countries, reflecting the circular mobility pattern observed among Ukrainians prior to 2022, when they were the largest non-EU workforce within the EU. However, with no end to the war in sight, the situation of Ukrainian refugees remains uncertain. There is currently no EU-level strategy regarding the status of refugees from Ukraine beyond the extension of temporary protection until March 2026. By April 2024, an estimated 1.2 million Ukrainians had already returned to their country despite the war. While most only go for brief visits to see family or tend to their properties, some intend to return permanently. Both the EU and Ukrainian policymakers face questions about the potential scale of and reasons for returns, as they seek to adapt and prepare their policies.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Reviewing the classification of IP addresses as personal data – E-002546/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The definition of personal data in Regulation (EU) 2016/679[1] (GDPR) is technologically neutral and broad to prevent creating a serious risk of circumvention of the protection of personal data[2]. Article 4(1) GDPR defines personal data as ‘any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person’, including an online identifier that identifies the person directly or indirectly.

    Online identifiers, such as cookies and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, combined with other information may be used to create online profiles of natural persons and identify them[3].

    Whether an IP address is personal data within the meaning of Article 4(1) GDPR depends on whether it can be linked to an identified or identifiable natural person.

    That is not necessarily always the case and depends on the specific circumstances of the case. In that respect, account must be taken of all the means reasonably likely to be used to identify the person, looking at all objective factors, such as the cost, the amount of time required for identification, taking into consideration available technology[4].

    The Court of Justice of the EU found on several occasions that IP addresses constituted personal data because the user of the IP address could be identified by the controller at issue[5].

    In the second report of the application of the GDPR[6], the Commission did not conclude that the definition of personal data should be amended.

    Regardless of their nature as personal data, where IP addresses are stored or accessed from the user’s terminal equipment, Article 5(3) of Directive 2002/58/EC[7] applies.

    That provision protects the confidentiality of users’ terminal equipment. It requires consent for the storage of or access to information (both personal and non-personal) stored in the terminal equipment, unless it is carried out for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication or if it is strictly necessary for the provision of an information society service explicitly requested by the user[8].

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (Text with EEA relevance), OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1-88.
    • [2] See for more Recital 15 GDPR.
    • [3] See for more Recital 30 GDPR.
    • [4] See for more Recital 26 GDPR.
    • [5] See for example C-470/21 and C-604/22.
    • [6] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council Second Report on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation, COM/2024/357 final.
    • [7] Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications), OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37-47, see in particular Recital 28.
    • [8] See also EDPB, Guidelines 2/2023 on Technical Scope of Art. 5(3) of ePrivacy Directive.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – EU-India relations: Time for a new boost? – 19-02-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Union (EU) is seeking to strengthen its strategic partnership with India, in place since 2004. The European Commission has given a strong signal in this direction. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced in Davos that the first visit of the whole College of Commissioners to a third country would be to India, on 27 and 28 February 2025. The EU-India Trade and Technology Council will also meet. A joint communication on a new strategic EU-India agenda is expected in the second quarter of 2025. An EU-India summit may take place in the last quarter of 2025. The EU wants to develop its relationship with India, whose market and economic growth (including in green technology) represents a valuable opportunity for EU companies. India’s strategic geographical position in the heart of the Indo-Pacific, where about 80 % of total global trade by volume passes, makes it a key partner for maintaining the security of the region and the freedom of navigation that are crucial to EU interests. The EU is also looking to expand its circle of key partners, against a backdrop of uncertainty over transatlantic relations. India meanwhile maintains a privileged relationship with Russia and is strengthening ties with the Trump administration. The EU and India are currently negotiating a free trade agreement, an investment protection agreement and an agreement on geographical indications. They also cooperate on a wide range of policies, including security, climate and energy, connectivity, research and innovation, and space. However, as the European Parliament underlined in its report on EU-India relations in January 2024, the partnership has not yet reached its full potential. Meanwhile, the EU-India five-year roadmap to 2025 is coming to an end, creating an opportunity to continue building a strong relationship. To develop their partnership, the EU and India would need to address some challenges. In particular, on trade negotiations New Delhi considers the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism and deforestation legislation to be unfair and detrimental to domestic markets. The EU is concerned about India’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and about its human rights situation.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Are the Commission’s objectives regarding the rate of wind power installation still tenable and warranted? – E-000581/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000581/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mathilde Androuët (PfE)

    In 2024, mainly thanks to nuclear energy, the share of decarbonised electricity produced by France was nearly 95%[1], though wind energy production fell by 8.4% in spite of a 6.6% increase in wind power capacity[2]. France is the only major industrial country to have achieved such a level of electricity decarbonisation.

    In September 2024, however, the Commission brought infringement proceedings against France,[3]principally because its renewable-energy development targets for 2030 were regarded as insufficient and because of incomplete transposition of Directive (EU) 2018/2001[4].

    According to the European Court of Auditors, the cost of the energy transition in the EU between 2021 and 2030 is put at EUR 11 200 billion[5]. To achieve 70% renewable-electricity capacity by 2030, Europe would have to double the rate of wind power installation and maintain the record rate achieved by solar in 2023[6].

    The problems and limitations of wind power within the renewable-energy mix, coupled with the staggering overall costs of the energy transition, are now well documented.

    Does the Commission think it conceivable to lower its targets, in particular as regards wind power deployment?

    Submitted: 7.2.2025

    • [1] https://www.rte-france.com/actualites/production-electricite-francaise-atteint-plus-haut-niveau-depuis-5-ans
    • [2] https://www.rte-france.com/eco2mix/les-chiffres-cles-de-lelectricite
    • [3] https://horizon-63.cerfrance.fr/actualites/energies-renouvelables-la-france-mise-en-demeure-par-la-commission-europeenne
    • [4] https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2024/07/11/dans-le-plan-energie-climat-de-la-france-soumis-a-bruxelles-des-objectifs-insuffisants-en-matiere-de-renouvelables_6248839_3244.html
    • [5] https://www.connaissancedesenergies.org/tribune-actualite-energies/transition-energetique-quel-cout-et-quelles-mesures-prioritaires?
    • [6] https://www.iddri.org/sites/default/files/PDF/Publications/Catalogue%20Iddri/Etude/202406-ST0224-transition%20elec%20EU_0.pdf?
    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Improving drinking water quality and checking the safety of plastic packaging – E-000648/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000648/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Loucas Fourlas (PPE)

    Recent studies have raised serious concerns about the quality of drinking water available in plastic bottles, as microplastics, chemicals and other contaminants that could pose a risk to public health have been detected. Despite EU legislative initiatives to reduce plastic pollution and improve water quality, the problem of drinking water contamination and its potential health impacts remains.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.How does the Commission assess the level of safety of bottled water in the Member States and what are the main findings of the checks carried out in recent years?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to implement the regulatory framework for bottled water packaging materials in order to reduce citizens’ exposure to harmful substances?
    • 3.What measures does the Commission plan to promote to further improve the quality of drinking water, both bottled and tap water, in order to ensure citizens’ access to clean and safe water?

    Submitted: 12.2.2025

    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Action to facilitate and simplify funding for digital health projects – E-000550/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-000550/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dimitris Tsiodras (PPE)

    EU funding programmes have contributed significantly to the development of digital healthcare solutions. However, according to a recent report by the European Court of Auditors[1], Member States face obstacles in using EU funds to digitalise healthcare. This is due to, among other reasons, the fact that the rules for applying for support and implementing funded actions differ from programme to programme, and that the requirement to provide national co-financing prevents some Member States from participating in joint actions, owing to their limited national resources.

    The above challenges make it difficult for Member States to identify and make use of available European funds.

    In light of this:

    • 1.How does the Commission intend to make it simpler to access funding and reduce the red tape involved in the application and reporting procedures of EU funds?
    • 2.How does it intend to improve its support and guidance for Member States with regard to the availability of EU funding for healthcare digitalisation projects?

    Submitted: 6.2.2025

    • [1] Special report 25/2024: Digitalisation of healthcare
    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – EU funds spent by UNRWA on terrorist-linked activities – E-002294/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Given the essential role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) , which provides crucial support to the civilian population in Gaza and the wider region, as confirmed by the European Council in December 2024[1], the EU expressed grave concern about the serious allegations made on 24 January 2024 on the possible involvement of some UNRWA staff in the unprecedented 7 October 2023 attacks, which the EU condemned in the strongest possible terms.

    The Commission has been in constant contact with UNRWA at the highest levels. As a result, UNRWA committed, notably in the context of the signature of the EU-UNRWA contribution agreement to implement the actions requested in the 29 January 2024 Commission statement[2]: (i) to allow an audit to be conducted by EU-appointed independent external experts; (ii) to strengthen its Department of Internal Investigations; and (iii) to carry out a review of all UNRWA staff to confirm that they did not participate in the attacks.

    Following the fulfilment by UNRWA of all the conditions agreed for the 2024 EU funding, the Commission disbursed in three tranches a total of EUR 82 million, and an additional top-up of EUR 10 million in December 2024[3].

    This came in addition to the EUR 48.5 million of EU humanitarian funding in 2024. The Commission is committed to continuing its support for the Agency, and closely monitors the implementation of the action plan developed by UNRWA in response to the recommendations of the Independent Review Group[4] and further decisive action by the UN to ensure neutrality, accountability and to strengthen control and oversight over the operations of the Agency.

    The Commission will also continue monitoring the implementation of the recommendations resulting from the EU audit.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/jhlenhaj/euco-conclusions-19122024-en.pdf
    • [2] https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/european-commission-statement-unrwa-2024-01-29_en
    • [3] https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-disburses-additional-eu10-million-payment-unrwa-2024-12-20_en
    • [4] https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/colonna-report-and-unrwa%E2%80%99s-high-level-action-plan-implementation-recommendations
    Last updated: 19 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Budget: Discussed and decided

    Source: City of Sunderland

    A budget for the next financial year has been decided at a meeting of the City Council.

    The three hour meeting at City Hall (Wednesday 19 February) saw the budget backed with a vote of 44 councillors in favour and 17 against.

    From April the Council Tax for day-to-day services, which raises around £16 of every £100 the council spends, will rise by 2.49 per cent. This is to help fund hundreds of city services from waste collection to parks and street lighting.

    The Adult Social Care Precept will rise by 2 per cent and the council has joined with other local authorities to lobby the Government on reforming social care funding and to end this local precept.

    Leader of the City Council, Councillor Michael Mordey said: “We have worked very hard to ensure this is a positive budget, which allows us to continue with our ambitious social and economic regeneration plans for the city, whilst ensuring we continue to protect and support our residents most in need.”

    The majority of city households are in Council Tax Band A and have a £0.99p weekly increase to help pay for city services and social care. The national benchmark Band D increase is a weekly city rise of £1.48p.

    With increasing demand and cost pressures for adult social care, the 2 per cent precept is expected to raise around £2.6m. More spending on adult social care is a key part of the new budget with an extra £15.8m allocated for the next year.

    While outlining a more positive settlement from the new Government, Cllr Mordey said that to achieve a balanced budget the council would be using £9m of reserves and continue to introduce and achieve more savings and cost efficiencies.

    He said: “Raising council tax remains one of the most difficult decisions for all councils. However, if we don’t raise it, we will need to cut services and reduce our investment into key priority areas.

    “That would mean cuts in services to those most vulnerable in our communities and to the services which residents tell us are a high priority.

    “Our budget proposals for next year confirm that we will continue to invest in our city. We will continue to invest to protect the most vulnerable people in Sunderland, and we will continue to invest in services that our residents tell us are important to them such as tackling anti-social behaviour and increasing community safety.”

    The council has a programme of ambitious investments of more than £400m over the four years and more than £250m of this is programmed for the next year. Projects due for completion in coming months include the new Wear footbridge open for the hosting of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, the Culture House opened, while a school buildings solar panel programme will get underway alongside further investments in the city’s infrastructure.

    Budget reports can be viewed at: Meetings and Events

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Ukraine: Three years of war reverses progress for women and girls

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Peace and Security

    Three years of war in Ukraine have reversed decades of progress for women and girls, leaving millions in urgent need of support, according to UN Women.

    Russia’s full-scale invasion has forced more than 1.8 million women to flee their homes within Ukraine, while nearly 6.7 million require humanitarian assistance.

    More than 3,799 women and 289 girls have been killed, though the real toll is believed to be significantly higher.

    “The full-scale war has pushed an entire generation of Ukrainian women backwards,” said Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in the country.

    “They are facing heightened exposure to gender-based violence; rising unemployment; decreased decision-making power; greater domestic burdens; and a severe mental health crisis,” she explained.

    Stressed out

    Gender-based violence has surged by 36 per cent since 2022, driven in part by conflict-related stress, UN Women reported. In parallel, depression rates among women and girls have worsened.

    On the economic front, opportunities have shrunk. By 2024, less than half of displaced women had jobs whilst the gender pay gap doubled since the beginning of the war.

    Meanwhile, the burden of unpaid care, from cooking to caring for children, has intensified as childcare services centres have closed and services dwindled. Women spent an average of 56 hours a week on childcare in 2024, up from 49 hours before the war.

    Leaders of humanitarian recovery

    Despite these hardships, Ukrainian women are leading humanitarian responses and driving economic resilience.

    Women have assumed key roles as aid workers, community leaders and entrepreneurs. Today, one in every two businesses in Ukraine is founded by a woman.

    Women are also entering traditionally male-dominated sectors such as security, transportation and demining.

    “Donors’ support to Ukrainian women-led organizations and programmes is crucial so they can continue promoting gender equality, women’s rights and leadership,” said Ms. Gunes.

    “Women’s full engagement will be essential to rebuild Ukraine as a gender-equal and gender-responsive society,” she added.

    Support and call for action

    In 2024 alone, UN Women supported more than 180,000 women and girls affected by the war through initiatives under the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund.

    The agency provides life-saving humanitarian aid, psychosocial and legal support, protection services and programmes to strengthen women’s economic independence.

    Four years on since the beginning of the war, UN Women is working to ensure that women are included in decision-making and recovery efforts, advocating for legal reforms to secure equal rights and representation.

    Overnight attack on Odesa

    The UN aid coordination office in Ukraine, OCHA, reported that an attack on Odesa City in the small hours of Wednesday morning had injured a number of civilians, including a child.

    Local authorities say the attack left a large residential area without electricity and heating, affecting at least 160,000 people – in the midst of winter.

    “Multiple apartment buildings were damaged, as well as a children’s hospital, and a kindergarten. For our part, we are providing emergency shelter materials, hot meals, psychosocial support, legal aid, and child protection services,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.,            

    Medical teams are conducting quick health checks and distributing medicines, while schools will remain closed until power and heating are restored.  

    In the southern city of Kherson aid workers are continuing to respond to an attack that took place on 17 February, and damaged a critical energy facility. 2,500 residents were left without electricity, heating, and water.  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Indictment Charges Suburban Chicago Man With Trafficking Firearms and Drugs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a suburban Chicago man for allegedly trafficking firearms and drugs.

    An indictment returned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges EFRAIN JACOBO, 42, of Prospect Heights, Ill., with federal firearm and drug offenses.  He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment this morning in federal court.  Jacobo is currently detained in federal custody.

    According to the indictment and a criminal complaint previously filed in the case, Jacobo dealt six handguns, a rifle, ammunition, and narcotics in a series of transactions last fall in Joliet, Ill.  The drugs in the deals included methamphetamines and cocaine. Unbeknownst to Jacobo, the individual to whom he sold the guns and drugs was an undercover law enforcement officer, the charges allege.

    During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 150 kilograms of methamphetamines from a truck that had traveled from Texas to Bolingbrook, Ill.  Law enforcement also seized fentanyl and cocaine from a storage facility used by Jacobo in Wheeling, Ill., and additional cocaine from Jacobo’s vehicle, the charges allege.

    The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Mike Rompa, Chief of the Bolingbrook, Ill. Police Department.  The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Steindorf.

    The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Announces Guilty Plea in Unregistered Firearm Case

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ALBUQUERQUE – An Alamogordo man pleaded guilty pleaded guilty to possessing a modified shotgun that was used in the fatal shooting of Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson on July 15, 2023.

    According to court documents, on July 15, 2023, Dominic De La O, 28, possessed a modified 12-gauge shotgun with a barrel length of less than 16 inches and an overall length of less than 26 inches, making it subject to registration under federal law. De La O admitted that the modified shotgun was operable and not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. He also acknowledged that the firearm lacked the new serial number required by law for modified weapons.

    On that date, De La O used the shotgun to shoot and kill Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson during a traffic stop.

    Jonah Apodaca was subsequently charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after the ATF determined that he had provided the modified shotgun to De La O. Apodaca pled guilty to the charges on June 18, 2024, and was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison.

    De La O will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, De La O faces up to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2024, a jury in New Mexico’s Twelfth Judicial District convicted De La O of murdering Officer Ferguson and a judge sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Alamogordo Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the Otero County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Felon in Possession of Handgun and AR-15 Rifle in Nash County Sentenced to 10 Years

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    NEW BERN, N.C. – A Benson man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.  On October 7, 2025, Keith Antonio Mcdougald, age 34, pled guilty to the offense.

    According to court documents and other information presented in court, Mcdougald was found in Nash County by the Nash County Sherriff’s deputies in a disabled vehicle on I-95 blocking all traffic. Mcdouglad initially gave a false name to law enforcement and admitted to smoking marijuana in the vehicle. Inside of the vehicle, deputies located an AR-15 rifle loaded with a large capacity magazine containing 41 rounds of ammunition, a 10mm pistol and a loaded 10mm magazine, six grams of marijuana, a glass pipe, 22.87 grams of a mixture containing heroin, fentanyl, ANPP, and flourofentanyl (a fentanyl analogue) and 7.57 grams of a mixture containing methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin and ANPP. Mcdougald admitted to traveling to Virginia to purchase tires from someone through Facebook Marketplace and that he needed to take “something” with him in case the seller tried to rob him for the money.

    Mcdougald was sentenced as a career offender and has four prior felony convictions including two counts of felony assault by strangulation, intimidation of a witness, and attempted obtaining Property by false pretenses. 

    Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Sandling and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aria Q. Merle prosecuted the case.

    Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00203-FL.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Union, Missouri Woman Accused of Embezzling from Her Employer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A woman from Washington, Missouri has been indicted and accused of embezzling more than $100,000 from her former employer.

    Victoria Isgriggs, formerly known as Victoria Denise Missey, was indicted on February 13 with two counts of bank fraud and four counts of wire fraud. She was arrested Wednesday and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in St. Louis the same day to plead not guilty.

    The indictment says Isgriggs, 44, worked at a Franklin County nursery and florist as an office manager and accountant from approximately Nov. 26, 2023, through April 29, 2024.  The indictment accuses Isgriggs of using a company bank account and company credit cards to pay personal expenses, including credit card debt, cell phone expenses, utility bills, and rent. The indictment also accuses Isgriggs of using company credit cards to make personal purchases that included luxury items and airfare.  

    The indictment seeks the forfeiture of jewelry, Christian Louboutin footwear and Louis Vuitton bags and accessories.

    Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt.  Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    The U.S. Secret Service and the Washington (Missouri) Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Roy prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Baie Verte — Afternoon impaired driver arrested by Baie Verte RCMP

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Following a report of a suspected impaired driver yesterday, February 19, 2025, a 76-year-old man was arrested for impaired operation by Baie Verte RCMP.

    At approximately 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, police received a report of a suspected impaired driver in Baie Verte. Police located the described vehicle a short time after the report and conducted a traffic stop. The driver showed signs of alcohol impairment and failed a roadside breath test. At the detachment, the man provided further breath samples that were above the legal limit.

    The driver was released from custody and is set to appear in court at a later date to answer to charges of impaired operation. The man’s licence was suspended and the vehicle was seized and impounded.

    Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. RCMP NL thanks those who continue to report suspected impaired drivers.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Lummis Addresses Wyoming Legislature 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
    Cheyenne, WY — Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) on Friday addressed her former colleagues in two speeches to the Wyoming House of Representatives and the Wyoming Senate.  
    Senator Lummis discussed the excitement in Washington surrounding President Trump’s agenda, important policy changes that will positively impact Wyoming, and the progress that DOGE and Elon Musk are making in rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse from within our government. 
    Click here to watch Sen. Lummis’ remarks to the Wyoming Senate
    Click here to watch Sen. Lummis’ remarks to the Wyoming House of Representatives
    Excerpts from Sen Lummis’ Wyoming Senate Remarks:
    “It’s such an honor for me to come and get to visit with you. Thank you for allowing me to serve you, and this state, in the United States Senate. It’s an absolute new day in Washington. 
    …
    “Three hundred executive orders. One that we are all proud of is to reverse the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan (RMP), and the Buffalo RMP, there is recognition by this president that we need all sources of energy, including hydrocarbons to run this nation. 
    “Artificial intelligence is going to double the demand we have now for energy – and we don’t have enough baseload energy to meet that need. Well Wyoming does – we export about twelve times more energy than we consume. So, my office is working with AI companies to encourage them to bring their computing needs here and use our energy to produce the computer capacity to make the United States number one in AI – and keep it that way. 
    “I want you to know that I’ve invited three of our new cabinet members to Wyoming. The Senate, as they say, is so different from the U.S. House – the Senate is in the personnel business. And that’s about all we’ve done since January 20th. We’ve confirmed more cabinet members than have been confirmed by this time in recent memory. 
    “One of them, that I’ve invited to Wyoming, is EPA Director Lee Zeldin. Lee has only been to Wyoming once and it was to Teton County. So, he has yet to see the EPA’s impacts on our state. He is anxious to come and anxious to learn. I served in the U.S. House with Lee Zeldin. He is a great guy but he is from New York and our issues are somewhat different than theirs. And he wants desperately to help us through challenging permitting issues and to understand just how clean we can do hydrocarbon energy. No state can do it cleaner than we can.
    “I’ve also invited Sean Duffy, another person with whom I served with in the U.S. House, who is our Transportation Secretary. As you know, the Highway Trust Fund is heading for insolvency in about three years. Part of that is driven by the fact that electric vehicles pay no fuel taxes so the funds are depleted because there are enough vehicles on the road who are not contributing to the safety of our highways because they pay no taxes. Only those of us who drive gasoline and diesel vehicles are contributing. 
    ….
    “The other person I invited out was RFK Jr. RFK Jr. hunts in Sweetwater County and he’s hoping after a pretty grueling process that he has just completed to come out and do a little hunting in Sweetwater County. I asked if while he’s here he might consent to do a healthcare roundtable in Rock Springs. And he said, “absolutely.” 
    And so, unless the president has other plans for his time, we hope to get him this spring to Rock Springs. That is an opportunity to help him understand frontier and rural healthcare in a way that only frontier and rural areas can. 
    ….
    “We are in a new Golden Age in Washington. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen. I got to be at the White House when President Trump signed the executive order restricting women’s sports to women. It was just a celebration. There were over a hundred women athletes behind the president on these bleachers. 
    …..
    “It’s been indescribably humbling to be there and see America back in charge – and the people back in charge of America.
    “I want to also tell you what Elon Musk is doing is incredibly important to America. He is ferreting our true waste, fraud, and abuse. And it’s shocking to see the pushback he is getting. He is auditing – he is finding where people were paid who should not have been. Government benefits, our dollars, going to people who should not have had them.
    ….
    “Mr. President – thank you for the privilege of the floor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Brighter Beginnings Event fun day at Eden Court

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    The Highland Council will be hosting a fun day at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness on Monday 3 March 2025.

    Cllr David Fraser, Chair of Highland Council’s Health Social Care and Wellbeing Committee said: “Brighter Beginnings is the first event held by Inverness Family Centre bringing together families and professionals to see what’s available for Highland’s youngest children. I hope that many families will take advantage of this great new opportunity.”

    Families with children under 5 years old are welcome to come along between 10.30am and 2.30pm and take part in free activities including messy play, scavenger hunt, outdoor play and puppet shows. There will also be a fire engine, police car and play bus on site. The first 100 parents/carers to come along will receive a free goodie bag!

    Image of Brighter Beginnings Event poster

    Gillian Forbes, PEEP Co-ordinator at the Inverness Family Centre said: “We are delighted to be hosting this event and are excited to welcome families along to meet services and enjoy the activities.  We recognise the importance of the Infant Pledge and working alongside families to give our youngest children the best possible start in life.”

    The event will run alongside the ‘Brighter Beginnings: Why early years matter’ Conference where there will be keynote speakers including Dan Wuori, Founder and President of Early Childhood Policy Solutions in the United States, and international author.

    Dan said: “I am looking forward to visiting the Highlands and meeting everyone. Learning starts before a baby is born and it’s vital that we recognise the importance of education in early years. This event is a great opportunity to talk about the role of parents/carers and professionals in giving our youngest children the best possible start in life.”

    Over 100 parents/carers and professionals will attend the Conference including children under 5.

    19 Feb 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs and Marine Police detected six large-scale maritime smuggling cases involving cigarettes and drugs during joint anti-smuggling operations (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs and Marine Police detected six large-scale maritime smuggling cases involving cigarettes and drugs during joint anti-smuggling operations (with photo)
    Hong Kong Customs and Marine Police detected six large-scale maritime smuggling cases involving cigarettes and drugs during joint anti-smuggling operations (with photo)
    ******************************************************************************************

         Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police conducted joint operations from February 12 to 19 targeting large-scale maritime smuggling activities and six cases involving suspected illicit cigarettes and suspected dangerous drugs were detected. During the joint operations, a total of about 16.93 million sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes and 459 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds were seized.     Customs and police officers conducted anti-smuggling operations in Sai Kung and Lantau Island from February 13 to 16 and detected four suspected illicit cigarettes smuggling cases. A total of 4.1 million sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $19 million and a duty potential of about $13.5 million, found in four goods vehicles and the waters nearby. The four goods vehicles involved in the cases were also detained.                 At small hours on February 18, Customs found a suspicious unattended fishing vessel in Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized 12.83 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $57 million and a duty potential of about $42 million, inside the compartments of the vessel.      Later on the same day, Customs intercepted a suspicious fishing vessel in the waters off Lamma Island, during which persons onboard the fishing vessel threw numerous nylon bags into the sea. Customs officers then took immediate action to board the vessel and retrieved the subject nylon bags from the water. Upon inspection, a total of about 459kg suspected cannabis buds, with an estimated market value of about $118 million, were found inside the nylon bags. Three local men, aged between 44 and 60, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested in the operation.     Investigations on the above mentioned six cases are ongoing.     Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies. Customs will continue co-operating and exchanging intelligence with the Police, Mainland and international law enforcement agencies, with targeted anti-smuggling operations carried out at suitable times to disrupt these activities.     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.      Under the Dangerous Drug Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking or illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour report hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2025Issued at HKT 22:27

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CDS Gen Anil Chauhan visits Rashtriya Indian Military College

    Source: Government of India (2)

    CDS Gen Anil Chauhan visits Rashtriya Indian Military College

    Gen Anil Chauhan urges Cadets to embrace Technological Advancements, Strategic Thinking, & Adaptability to meet Future Security Challenges

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 7:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan visited the Rashtriya Indian Military College on 19 February 2025, reaffirming the institution’s pivotal role in shaping the future leadership of the Indian Armed Forces. Gen Chauhan was received with full military honours and accorded a warm welcome by the Commandant, faculty and cadets of RIMC. During his visit, he interacted with cadets and faculty, gaining insights into the carefully structured training, academic curriculum, and leadership development programs at the institution.

    In his address, Gen Chauhan lauded RIMC’s legacy of producing distinguished military leaders and emphasized the values of discipline, integrity, and service to the nation. He appreciated the institution’s commitment to integrating modern education with military traditions, ensuring that cadets are well-equipped for future challenges. Highlighting the evolving nature of warfare, he urged cadets to embrace technological advancements, strategic thinking, and adaptability to meet future security challenges.

    The CDS also visited the Somnath Resource Centre & Museum, which showcases RIMC’s rich history and the contributions of its illustrious alumni to the nation. General Chauhan took keen interest in the exhibits, reflecting on the role of RIMC-trained officers in various military operations. As a mark of commitment to growth and resilience, General Chauhan planted a tree on campus. The visit concluded with cadets expressing gratitude for his inspiring words and reaffirming their dedication to upholding the values and traditions of RIMC.

    The visit of the Chief of Defence Staff reinforced RIMC’s standing as a premier institution dedicated to grooming future military leaders and instilling in them an unwavering spirit of service and patriotism.

    SR/Anand

    (Release ID: 2104807) Visitor Counter : 20

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: World Day of Social Justice – 20th February

    Source: Government of India (2)

    World Day of Social Justice – 20th February

    India’s Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 6:54PM by PIB Delhi

    Introduction

    World Day of Social Justice, observed annually on February 20th by the United Nations, serves as a global call to action for addressing poverty, exclusion, and unemployment while promoting solidarity, harmony, and equality of opportunity within and between societies.

    Aligned with the ethos of the World Day of Social Justice, India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) has intensified efforts to bridge socio-economic gaps through legislative reforms, grassroots empowerment, and global partnerships.

    Background & Global Context

    Established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during the 62nd session on November 26, 2007, the World Day of Social Justice has been celebrated annually on 20th Feb since the 63rd session in 2009. This observance stems from the recognition that social development and social justice are indispensable for achieving and maintaining peace and security both within and among nations. The day emphasizes that social justice cannot be attained without peace, security, and respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

    In the face of global challenges such as financial crises, insecurity, and inequality, the day serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for social justice initiatives. It emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities through trade, investment, technological advancements, and economic growth while addressing the obstacles that hinder full participation in the global economy, particularly for developing countries and those in transition.

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) also plays a crucial role in promoting social justice through its Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, adopted in 2008. This declaration builds upon previous ILO statements and places the Decent Work Agenda at the core of the organization’s policies.

    The day aligns closely with the United Nations’ broader mission to promote development and human dignity. Initiatives like the Social Protection Floor, launched in 2009, demonstrate the UN’s commitment to ensuring basic social guarantees for all.

    The World Day of Social Justice highlights several key principles and objectives:

    Evolution of Social Justice in India

    India has observed the World Day of Social Justice since 2009. The evolution of social justice and empowerment in India has been a gradual but progressive process influenced by historical struggles, constitutional mandates, and policy developments. The vision of social justice and empowerment has been deeply rooted in India’s independence movement and the vision laid down by the Constitution to ensure equality, dignity, and justice for all citizens, especially the marginalized communities.

    The Constitution of India lays a strong foundation for social justice and empowerment through various provisions that aim to eliminate social inequalities and promote the welfare of disadvantaged groups.

    Key Constitutional Provisions on Social Justice and Empowerment

    Preamble

    The Preamble ensures social, economic, and political justice, guarantees equality of status and opportunity, and promotes fraternity to uphold individual dignity and national unity. It establishes the foundation for a just and inclusive society free from discrimination.

    Fundamental Rights (Part III)

    Article 23 prohibits human trafficking and forced labour, making such practices punishable by law. Article 24 bans child labour in hazardous occupations, protecting children’s rights to safety and education. These rights safeguard vulnerable groups from exploitation.

    Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV)

    Article 37 states that DPSPs, though not legally enforceable, are essential for governance. Article 38 directs the State to reduce social and economic inequalities. Article 39 ensures equal livelihood, fair wages, and protection from exploitation. Article 39A guarantees free legal aid for the disadvantaged. Article 46 mandates special educational and economic promotion for SCs, STs, and weaker sections to prevent discrimination.

    In 1985-86, the Ministry of Welfare was bifurcated into the Department of Women & Child Development and the Department of Welfare, incorporating divisions from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Law. It was later renamed the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in May 1998.

    The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment envisions building an inclusive society where marginalized groups can lead productive, safe, and dignified lives with adequate support for their growth and development. It strives to empower these groups through educational, economic, and social development programs, along with rehabilitation initiatives where necessary.

    The Union Budget 2025-26 reflects this commitment, allocating Rs 13,611 crores to the MoSJE, a 6 percent increase from 2024-25, to ensure saturation coverage of welfare schemes.

    The department’s mandate focuses on uplifting socially, educationally, and economically marginalized communities, including Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Senior Citizens, Victims of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Transgender Persons (under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019), individuals engaged in begging, Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). Through targeted policies and interventions, it aims to foster equity and inclusion in society.

    Key Initiatives by the Government of India

    1. Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhyuday Yojana (PM-AJAY)

    The scheme launched in 2021-22, merges three schemes to uplift SC communities through skill development, income generation, and infrastructure in Schedule Caste dominated villages. It has three components: Adarsh Gram development, Grants-in-Aid for socio-economic projects, and hostel construction in higher education institutions. Since January 1, 2024, 5,051 villages have been declared Adarsh Gram, 1,655 projects benefiting 3,05,842 people have been sanctioned, and ₹26.31 crore allocated for 38 hostels.

    2. Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SRESHTA)

    The SHRESHTA scheme aims to bridge service gaps in Schedule Caste dominant areas by supporting grant-in-aid institutions and high-quality residential schools. It provides financial assistance to top CBSE/State Board-affiliated private schools for SC students in classes 9 and 11, ensuring education till class 12. Additionally, it funds NGOs/VOs to run residential and non-residential schools and hostels with adequate infrastructure and strong academic standards, fostering socio-economic upliftment of SC communities.

     

    3. Purple Fests

    Purple Fests (Festival of Inclusion) have been organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, since 2023. In 2024, the event welcomed over 10,000 Divyangjan and their escorts, fostering a sense of solidarity and mutual respect. Purple Fest is a movement towards a more equitable society, championing the values of accessibility, dignity, and equal opportunity for all. The event also saw the launch of significant initiatives, including the India Neurodiversity Platform in collaboration with TATA POWER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST, aimed at early intervention and home care support, a handbook on attitudinal barriers and disability-sensitive language to promote inclusive communication, and a nationwide series of 25 job fairs by the American Indian Foundation and DEPwD.

    Performances from the Purple Fest – 2024

    4. National Action for Mechanised Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE)

    The National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in FY 2023-24 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJ&E) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). It aims to ensure the safety, dignity, and sustainable livelihood of sanitation workers in urban India. The scheme has integrated components of the former Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS) and expanded its coverage to include waste pickers as a target group from FY 2024-25.

     

    5. Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood & Enterprise (SMILE)

    The Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise (SMILE) Scheme is a comprehensive initiative aimed at the rehabilitation of transgender individuals and persons engaged in begging. Its primary objective is to create a ‘Bhiksha Vritti Mukt Bharat’ (Begging-free India) by ensuring the reintegration of beggars into mainstream society. The scheme focuses on area-specific surveys, awareness campaigns, mobilization and rescue operations, access to shelter homes and basic services, skills training, alternative livelihood options, and the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Currently, it is active in 81 cities and towns, including key pilgrimage, historical, and tourist locations, with plans to expand to 50 more cities in the next phase.

      

    As of November 15, 2024, 7,660 individuals engaged in begging have been identified, out of which 970 have been successfully rehabilitated. The scheme continues to work towards its goal by providing shelter, vocational training, and employment opportunities, helping marginalized individuals regain dignity and self-sufficiency.

    6. PM-DAKSH Yojana

    The PM-DAKSH Yojana launched on 7th August, 2021, aims to enhance the skill levels of marginalized communities, including SCs, OBCs, EBCs, DNTs, and Safai Karamcharis, for economic empowerment through free skill training. The scheme, with a budget of ₹450.25 crore (2021-26), provides short-term and long-term training to facilitate wage and self-employment, ensuring at least 70% placement. Training is conducted through Government and reputed Private Training Institutes, aligned with NSQF and Common Norms of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), targeting individuals aged 18-45 years.

    7. Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

    Launched on 15th August 2020, the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) aims to make India drug-free by targeting 272 high-risk districts, identified through a national survey and NCB inputs. The campaign follows a three-pronged approach: curbing supply (Narcotics Control Bureau), awareness and demand reduction (Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment), and treatment (Health Department). Since its inception, NMBA has reached 13.57 crore people, including 4.42 crore youth and 2.71 crore women, with participation from 3.85 lakh educational institutions.

    Conclusion

    As the world grapples with economic challenges, the World Day of Social Justice renews commitments to equity and inclusion, reminding us that injustice anywhere affects all of humanity. While progress has been made, much remains to be done. India has embraced this vision through legislative reforms, grassroots programs, and targeted welfare initiatives. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) plays a key role in uplifting marginalized communities, aligning its efforts with global frameworks like the Decent Work Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to uphold justice and equality.

    Through initiatives like PM-AJAY, NAMASTE, SMILE, PM-DAKSH Yojana, and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, MoSJE has empowered disadvantaged groups with education, skills, and economic opportunities. Increased budget allocations, inclusive platforms like Purple Fests, and expanded social protection measures highlight the government’s commitment to fostering justice and inclusion. As India observes the World Day of Social Justice, these efforts reaffirm its dedication to bridging socio-economic gaps and ensuring dignity and opportunity for all.

    References

     

    Click here to see PDF:

    Santosh Kumar/Ritu Kataria/ Vatsla Srivastava

    (Release ID: 2104798) Visitor Counter : 73

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary, M/o Labour & Employment led the Indian delegation at First G20 Employment Working Group Meeting 2025 under South African Presidency

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Secretary, M/o Labour & Employment led the Indian delegation at First G20 Employment Working Group Meeting 2025 under South African Presidency

    Discussions held on Fostering Youth Transitions to Decent Work, Inclusive Labour Markets, Better Jobs for Youth and Women, Decent Jobs for Rehabilitation/ Persons with Disabilities

    Posted On: 19 FEB 2025 6:10PM by PIB Delhi

    Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, led the Indian delegation at the first G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting under the South African Presidency, held from 18-21 February 2025 at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The delegation included Dr. Thelma John David, Consul General of India in Durban, South Africa, and Mr. Piyush Kumar Pathak, Deputy Director from the Ministry of Labour & Employment

    Discussions were held on two priority issues namely, (i) Inclusive Growth and Youth Employment, (ii) Social Security and Digitalisation for an Inclusive Future of Work.

    First G20 Employment Working Group meeting saw interventions from G20 member countries, emphasizing their respective policy approaches to employment, social security, and skills development. Invited member States including United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of the Netherlands and Kingdom of Norway also made interventions on priority areas. International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) also made a presentation on global employment trends and best practices in labour market reforms.

    During the intervention, Secretary highlighted India’s major reforms aimed at job creation, labour market flexibility, and comprehensive social security. India, as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, continues to strengthen its economic landscape through strategic sectoral investments, including agriculture, MSMEs, manufacturing, medical education, and infrastructure development. The focus on global supply chains and export-driven employment was underscored, with initiatives to enhance warehousing and air cargo facilities.

    The intervention also emphasized India’s positive employment trends, noting a decline in the unemployment rate from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24, alongside a significant rise in the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) and Worker Population Ratio. Labour market modernization was highlighted, particularly the four Labour Codes and other reforms aimed at improving labour welfare, expanding social security—including for gig and platform workers—formalizing employment, and increasing female labour force participation.

    India’s efforts in social security expansion were recognized, with coverage doubling from 24.4% in 2021 to 48.8% in 2024, as per the ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2024-26. With the ongoing work with ILO on including ‘in-kind’ benefits and those of the states, the potential coverage of the country will go up further.

    Secretary emphasized the success of the e-Shram portal, which has registered over 300 million unorganized workers, and the modernization of ESIC and EPFO schemes. The Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme was also highlighted as a key initiative to promote formal sector employment.

    On gender inclusion, Secretary reiterated India’s commitment to achieving 70% female workforce participation by 2047, citing progressive policies such as extended maternity leave, crèche facilities, and equal pay provisions. India’s increasing participation of women in high-growth sectors like IT, R&D, and engineering was noted as a critical driver of economic growth.

    Youth empowerment through skill development was emphasized during India’s intervention with a key focus on employability of graduates which has risen in last decade from 34% to 55%. India’s global engagement in skills mapping with the ILO and OECD was underscored, along with bilateral agreements facilitating skilled labour mobility with major G20 countries.

    Secretary reaffirmed India’s commitment to fostering economic inclusion and empowering its youth, recognizing them as key drivers of national and global growth.

    *****

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2104788) Visitor Counter : 68

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at HKCGI Annual Celebration Reception 2025 (English only) (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute (HKCGI) Annual Celebration Reception 2025 today (February 19):

    David (President of HKCGI, Mr David Simmonds), Edith (past President of HKCGI, Ms Edith Shih), Ellie (Chief Executive of HKCGI, Ms Ellie Pang), Kelvin (Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission, Dr Kelvin Wong), fellow members, ladies and gentlemen,

         Good evening. It is a great pleasure to join you tonight to celebrate the laudable achievements of the Hong Kong Chartered Governance Institute over the past year.

         I last joined you in October for the Institute’s landmark 75th anniversary celebration. This gathering, I’m honoured to say, carries special significance for this speaker.

         I have been fortunate in my career, blessed to have known and worked with, a great many good people and organisations – including this Institute and its members.

         As Edith just mentioned, my deep and abiding ties with the Institute go back more than 40 years now. Today, I stand here, deeply humbled, in front of so many longstanding friends and associates, as an HKCGI Prize Award recipient. And this Award is one that I accept with immense gratitude.

         Good governance has always been fundamental to our city’s success as an international financial centre. Today, it continues to serve as the bedrock of trust in our companies and stability in our financial system.
          
    From Resilience to Growth

         Last year, the theme of the Institute was “Resilience in Governance”. Over the past year, we have all witnessed Hong Kong’s remarkable resilience in face of a complex external environment. 

         For example, Hong Kong has climbed up in several prominent international rankings – as the freest economy in the world; and Asia’s number one international financial centre, and among the global top three. Our overall international competitiveness is among the world’s top five.

         We have demonstrated our enduring appeal to businesses from all over the world. Last year, the number of Mainland and overseas companies with presence in Hong Kong jumped by 10 per cent, reaching nearly 10 000. The total number of companies in Hong Kong also reached an all-time high of 1.46 million.

         And our capital market is gaining momentum again, signified by higher liquidity and a more vibrant IPO (initial public offering) market, raising funds of more than $87 billion last year and ranking fourth globally. Our stock market surged by some 18 per cent, with an average daily turnover reaching $132 billion last year, an increase of around 26 per cent from a year earlier. The optimism here is marked by another recent boom in the stock market.

         This year, the world will look no less complex. The dynamics of the global economy are rapidly changing. Geo-economic fragmentation fuelled by protectionism and unilateralism, higher-for-longer interest rates, disruptive technologies and climate change are among the predominant forces and challenges reshaping businesses and financial markets everywhere.

         Your strategic theme for 2025, “Governance for Growth”, could not be more timely, for we all look for strategies to find new growth impetus in changing times.

         Hong Kong is a small and externally-oriented economy. Our prosperity has long hinged on our connectivity with both the Mainland and the rest of the world. Navigating changes and challenges has long been our strength.

         Geopolitics present both challenges and opportunities. With the staunch support from our country, and with our resilience, agility and versatility, we have all the good reasons to stay confident.

         For example, in response to geopolitics, many Mainland enterprises see the need to redirect their manufacturing capacity and capabilities overseas, particularly the Global South, including Southeast Asia. With the realignment of the global industrial and supply chains, they need a wide range of financial, high value-added professional and consulting services. Also significant to their businesses are trade financing, corporate treasury and logistics management services, as well as advice on compliance with regional and international standards and practices.

         As an international financial centre, home to global capital, top-notch talent and world-class professional services providers with extensive international connections, Hong Kong is where they want to be to realise their global ambitions. We are encouraging these companies go global using Hong Kong as a platform, by establishing their regional and international headquarters, corporate treasury centres and even R&D (research and development) hubs in the city.

         All the more so, Hong Kong will continue to be a popular destination for such companies to raise capital to support their expansion plans. With the staunch support from the Central Authorities, Hong Kong is working to bring more leading Mainland companies to our stock exchange. The market is optimistic about our IPOs this year. Indeed, more than 100 companies are in the waiting line. Besides, more than the stock market, the full suite of fund-raising options, from angel investments, private equity and venture capital to alternative financing, are at the service of companies at different stages.
          
    Governance for success

         Ladies and gentlemen, governance professionals will be at the core of all these new and exciting developments. More than beneficiaries, by ensuring that businesses embrace good governance as a driver of long-term success and prosperity, you contribute to the high integrity and reputation of Hong Kong as an international financial centre.

         This is an important mission. For that, I am grateful to the HKCGI – to each and every one of you – for your great work.

         Once again, allow me to tell you how deeply honoured I am to receive this award from the Institute – from you, friends and colleagues, believers in Hong Kong, all.

         I wish you the best of business and health in this promising Year of the Snake. Thank you very much.      

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor McKee, Rhode Island Commerce Launch New Grant Program to Increase Workforce Development in Ocean Tech Hub Industries

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    Published on Wednesday, February 19, 2025

    PROVIDENCE, RI — Today, Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Commerce launched the Blue Youth Innovation Grant program — a collaboration between Rhode Island Commerce, the RI Department of Labor and Training, and the Community College of Rhode Island — to increase student interest and skills in careers that support industries critical to the success of the Ocean Tech Hub. The Blue Youth Innovation Grant seeks to prepare at least 100 students for future learning and employment in up-and-coming industries critical to our national and regional economic development and security.

    “Through programs like the Blue Youth Innovation Grant, we are charting a course toward a brighter and more prosperous future for Rhode Islanders through education,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Helping to advance the Ocean Tech Hub and our blue economy will help raise incomes and lead to greater economic prosperity.”

    The Ocean Tech Hub was one of 31 initiatives to receive a Tech Hub designation by the Biden-Harris Administration in 2023. Its mission is to advance national and regional economic development, security, and environmental sustainability through innovative ocean technology. Core industries that support the Ocean Tech Hub include robotics, sensors, advanced materials, composites, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, with a focus on undersea applications.

    The Blue Youth Innovation Grant is open to Rhode Island public high schools (including traditional local education districts, charter schools, and career and technical schools), Rhode Island-accredited higher education institutions, and Rhode Island-based employers (employers with at least 51% of employees working in Rhode Island and who are registered with the RI Secretary of State). 

    Funds can be used to:

    • Establish partnerships.
    • Hire coordinators.
    • Compensate instructors.
    • Purchase materials.
    • Develop coursework.
    • Cover additional instructional, coordination, and related expenses.

    “Rhode Island is the Ocean State, and any investment in our blue economy is an investment in our future,” said Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner. “Creating the workforce of tomorrow starts in the classroom, and the Blue Youth Innovation Grant will help students, schools, and businesses adapt and innovate to ensure Rhode Island is the leader in ocean technology.”

    “This grant is an exciting investment in the state’s evolving blue economy,” said Director of RI Department of Labor & Training, Matthew Weldon. “By equipping students and workers with the skills needed for ocean technology careers, we are building a strong talent pipeline that will land good jobs in the fast-growing sector and ensure the long-term success of our Ocean Tech Hub.”

    “CCRI is proud to partner in this initiative to expand opportunities for students in Rhode Island’s growing ocean technology sector. As the state’s largest provider of workforce education, we are committed to equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in these high-demand industries. The Blue Youth Innovation Grant will help strengthen the pipeline from education to employment, ensuring that Rhode Islanders are at the forefront of innovation in the blue economy,” added Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, interim president of CCRI.

    The deadline to apply is Friday, March 28, 2025.

    For more information on eligibility requirements and where to apply, click here.

    For more information on the Ocean Tech Hub, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canadian flight attendants are pushing for fair ground pay amid union negotiations

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Kenneth Haggett, Master’s Student, Women and Gender Studies, Saint Mary’s University

    Canadian flight attendants and their union, CUPE’s airline division, have faced chronic workplace issues for the past four decades. Notably, their union has been pushing the federal government and airlines for equitable pay since 2022.

    A key development came in June 2024 when Conservative MP Lianne Rood proposed Bill C-409 to the House of Commons, which would compensate attendants for training and ground time, which includes tasks like aircraft preparation, boarding, deplaning and safety demonstrations.

    However, the Conservative Party of Canada did not consult with CUPE’s airline division in tabling Bill C-409, and CUPE has expressed their uncertainty regarding the Conservative Party’s support.

    In October 2024, NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo tabled Bill C-415, which goes further by requiring attendants to be paid for all hours worked at their full rate of pay. CUPE and the NDP Party have collaborated to push for this bill.

    The issue of unpaid ground time first gained media attention in May 2022 but has been a long-standing concern among flight attendants.

    Industry labour issues

    Flight attendants in Canada work approximately 35 uncompensated hours per month, according to CUPE Airline Division President Wesley Lesosky.

    Attendants are only paid while the aircraft is in the air, meaning ground tasks and delays are unpaid. Flight attendants may work a 10- to 12-hour shift, but only be paid for six to eight hours.

    In the past, attendants were compensated well enough to cover ground duties, but stagnant wages and the current cost-of-living crisis in Canada have left attendants poorly compensated.

    Though the union primarily focuses on organizational inequities resulting in unpaid ground time, flight delays are a major cause of such extended, unpaid hours by prolonging attendants’ duty time.

    While some negotiations have been reported between airlines and the union, such as Air Transat and Air Canada, few deals have been made, leaving flight attendants uncompensated for ground duties.

    Unions mobilize against unpaid ground time

    To call public attention to the issue, the union staged demonstrations in April 2023 and May 2024.

    While the union has sought to avoid taking strike measures — likely due to non-strike provisions in collective agreements — it could legally take job action after March 31 if negotiations fail. Union members could then vote to strike.

    CUPE’s airline division began to renegotiate union agreements with Air Canada in mid-December, ahead of the March 2025 contract expiration. The union’s primary focus is to make better bargains with employers surrounding unpaid ground time. Ideally, new agreements would compensate flight attendants for all hours worked, not simply time spent in the air.

    A Feb. 3 update from the union reveals that, while negotiations are steadily progressing, the process remains lengthy and complex. To strengthen its position, the union has commissioned legal and research professionals to aid in the negotiation of benefits, pensions, wage increases and scheduling changes, among others.

    As sociologists focusing on labour relations, we conducted a literature review on historical trends within the Canadian airline industry, digging deeper into structural issues leading to unpaid ground time.

    Our research has found that the neoliberal shifts of the 1980s are a major determinant of attendants’ deteriorating working conditions. Over time, rising corporate austerity has placed attendants’ wages on the back burner.

    Structural roots of unpaid ground time

    The issue of unpaid ground time is not an isolated issue in the airline industry, but a byproduct of broader economic and labour trends.

    Our findings highlight how neoliberal economic policies — particularly the wave of deregulation and privatization in the 1980s — have strengthened corporate power while weakening unions’ bargaining capacity.

    Founded in 1948, Canada’s first flight attendant union, the Canadian Air Line Flight Attendants’ Association (CALFAA), focused on addressing attendants’ health, safety and wage concerns.

    But with the neoliberal push to deregulate and privatize the industry, CALFAA’s challenges were amplified. In response, CALFAA voted to merge with CUPE — Canada’s leading union — to extend their influence, becoming CUPE’s airline division.

    Yet the growing emphasis on corporate profit continues to erode union power to secure and maintain fair pay and equitable workplace standards. Bargaining processes have become increasingly difficult, with arbitrators often favouring corporate interests.

    State-imposed anti-strike provisions from previous years have curtailed unions’ ability to strike against unfair conditions. Successful airline lobbying has also threatened workplace safety, as indicated in a 2015 case of pilot duty time.

    As airlines continue to compete in a “race to the bottom” to minimize expenses and maximize profit, flight attendants continue to face unpaid labour issues. Federally supported through bailouts and bankruptcy protections, airlines have been pandered to at the expense of airline workers.

    A lack of state and corporate response to the issue at hand indicates the prioritization of austerity over Canadian flight attendants’ financial well-being. Without meaningful policy changes, key issues like unpaid ground time will remain chronically neglected.

    Looking ahead

    Though unpaid ground time is presented as the major issue within the workplace, the extensive, unpaid labour required of flight attendants can lead to poorer mental health, chronic fatigue and other health concerns that pose risks due to their impact on attendants’ ability to perform safety duties.

    With contract negotiations underway, CUPE’s airline division has an opportunity to push for better working conditions and pay structures that reflect all hours worked.

    Canadian airlines must address the issue of unpaid labour and, ultimately, implement more equitable workplace standards for flight attendants.

    Whether airlines and the federal government will indeed act on these demands remains to be seen. Yet the growing pressure from unions and political figures suggests the fight for fair pay is far from over.

    Lauren Cormier, an undergraduate student in sociology at Trent University, co-authored this article.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Canadian flight attendants are pushing for fair ground pay amid union negotiations – https://theconversation.com/canadian-flight-attendants-are-pushing-for-fair-ground-pay-amid-union-negotiations-238959

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Senator Marshall and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins Hold Fireside Chat at Top Producer Summit and Join RFD-TV to Discuss Agricultural Priorities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Kansas City – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) welcomed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins to Kansas this week. They made multiple stops around the state at key Kansas agriculture locations and ended their trip by attending Top Producer Summit in Kansas City where they held a fireside chat which was moderated by Senator Marshall.
    During the conversation, Secretary Rollins discussed her background and priorities for improving American agriculture. Both Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins emphasized that they are not just fighting for policies, but fighting for the American farmer and rancher who put so much on the line to feed our country and the world. Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins also discussed the importance of cutting government regulations and increasing agricultural production. 
    In addition, Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins joined RFD-TV to discuss tariffs, their commitment to working with President Trump to help ranchers and farmers, and the status of the next Farm Bill.
    You may click HERE  to watch Senator Marshall’s full interview with RFD-TV.
    Highlights from the interview include:
    Senator Marshall on how rural farmers are struggling and what can be done:
    “As the Secretary mentioned, there’s been a record drop in net farm income. But the opportunities are there. The dairy industry is growing in Kansas. The cattle industry is growing as well. Biofuels are huge opportunities as well. So I think again, in the spirit of optimism, rolling back regulations. The Secretary was very involved before in the previous Trump Administration, rolling back Waters of the U.S. Our farmers and ranchers are being strangled by regulation, so we are looking forward to rolling those back as well.”
    Senator Marshall on the importance and function of tariffs:
    “Farmers and ranchers support President Trump. They know under Trump 1.0 that he gave us USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement)… He used those tariffs for the long-term gain of the farmers. [President Trump is] the best deal maker that you’ve ever met, and he’s going to make a deal with India. And I think India will replace China as one of our top markets as well, but not if they’re tariffing us 50% and we’re not tariffing them. So I think there are huge opportunities. We’ve got a deal maker in DC now, and the Secretary is gonna be right there pushing them down that road as well.”
    Senator Marshall on the outlook of the next Farm Bill:
    “We’ll get done this year. I am looking forward to working with Senator Klobuchar who’s the new ranking member for the Democrats… So, I think working with her and Senator Bozeman, we’ll get it across the finish line. We will put the farm back in Farm Bill. We’ll take care of the crop insurance. We’re going to take care of reference prices and maybe expand the guardrails for the conservation program so that the farmers and ranchers can actually use them. So, we’ll put the farm back in Farm Bill. We’ll get it done.”
    Senator Marshall on working with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins:
    “Secretary Rollins lives, breathes, and eats this agriculture world. And I think she did a great job communicating what was on her heart. She was born and raised in agriculture and that agriculture isn’t just an industry, it’s a way of life. And then her relationship with President Trump over the last eight years, and what a huge priority rural America is to President Trump. 90% of rural Americans voted for President Trump. That’s not lost on him, and he wants us to do everything that he can to make rural America great again.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Announces Takedown of Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Ring in the Hudson Valley 

    Source: US State of New York

    NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the takedown of a drug trafficking ring in the Hudson Valley that illegally sold cocaine, powder fentanyl, and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl across Dutchess, Ulster, and Orange Counties. An investigation led by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) recovered two and a half kilograms of cocaine worth approximately $45,000, thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl worth over $500,000, and three and a half kilograms of powder fentanyl worth over $200,000. Five illegal handguns, including two ghost guns, and four high-capacity magazines were also seized during the operation. A 122-count indictment charging four individuals for their roles in the drug trafficking network was unsealed in Dutchess County Court. The indictment charges Xavier Grant, Antawone West, Michael Jones, and Kenyi Torres with multiple felonies for narcotics and firearms offenses.

    “Drug traffickers who distribute lethal amounts of opioids put communities throughout our state in danger,” said Attorney General James. “Not only did these individuals sell deadly narcotics, they disguised fentanyl in fake prescription pills, putting the lives of their customers at even greater risk. I thank our partners in law enforcement for their collaboration in this effort to take a dangerous criminal organization off our streets as we continue to work to keep New Yorkers safe.”

    The takedown was the result of an eleven-month joint investigation led by OCTF and the New York State Police’s (NYSP) Special Investigations Unit – Hudson Valley (SIU-HV) and Troop K – Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (K-VGNET).

    The investigation included hundreds of hours of physical and covert surveillance, analysis of voluminous electronic evidence, including cellphone communications, covert video and audio recordings, and other traditional investigative techniques. During their communications, the defendants frequently utilized coded and cryptic terminology in an attempt to disguise their illicit activities, such as referring to orders of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl as “blues,” “blueberries,” or “perks,” a nod to their legitimate, prescription medication counterparts. 

    The investigation revealed that Grant, West, Jones, and Torres obtained cocaine, powder fentanyl, and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl for further distribution. Additionally, the investigation revealed that the four defendants worked together to store, supply, and distribute the narcotics in Dutchess, Orange, and Ulster Counties. The narcotics were stored in various stash locations in the residential areas of Poughkeepsie and often sold in parking lots. The investigation also seized five illegal handguns, four of which were loaded, and two of which were ghost guns, in addition to four illegal high-capacity magazines.

    The investigation into this narcotics trafficking network led to the recovery of:

    • Two and a half kilograms of cocaine;
    • Thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl weighing over two and a half kilograms;
    • Three and a half kilograms of powder fentanyl;
    • Five illegal handguns, including two ghost guns and four high-capacity magazines;
    • Drug paraphernalia, including scales, ziplock bags, glassine envelopes, and other packaging materials used to package and measure narcotics;
    • Two “kilo” presses; and
    • Approximately $255,000 in cash.

    Some of the alleged narcotics and firearms seized during the investigation, including cocaine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, powder fentanyl, five handguns, four high-capacity magazines, and “kilo” presses.

    The 122-count indictment, unsealed in Dutchess County Court, includes counts for various felony narcotics offenses, including charges against Jones and West for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, respectively. Each carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Additional charges include various counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance (class B felonies) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A-II and B felonies), as well as Conspiracy to commit those crimes.

    Jones and West are also charged with firearms offenses including Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C violent felony, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E felony.

    Grant and Torres are each charged with, among other things, multiple counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, a class A-II felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. They are also charged with Conspiracy to commit those crimes. The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Some of the alleged counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl seized during this investigation.

    “I want to thank the Attorney General’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their vigilant hard work that has resulted in the arrests of these dangerous individuals,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James. “The sale of these highly addictive drugs perpetuates a cycle of substance abuse which poses a significant threat to safety and quality of life within our neighborhoods. This sends a strong message to dealers that we will not tolerate illegal drugs and weapons being brought into or sold in our communities.”

    Those charged in the indictment include:

    • Xavier Grant a/k/a “X,” 22 years old of Poughkeepsie, New York;
    • Antawone West, 25 years old of Poughkeepsie, New York;
    • Michael Jones a/k/a “Slime,” 33 years old of Poughkeepsie, New York; and
    • Kenyi Torres, 45 years old of Middletown, New York.

    This takedown marks the latest major drug bust in OAG’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) Initiative, a law enforcement effort that brings together state and local law enforcement to target New York’s heroin, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks. Since launching in 2017, SURGE has taken 984 alleged traffickers off the streets.

    The investigation was led by OCTF Detectives David Walsh and Steven Cohan, under the supervision of OCTF Detective Supervisor Bradford Miller, OCTF Downstate Assistant Chief Ismael Hernandez, and OCTF Deputy Chief Andrew Boss. The Attorney General’s Investigations Division is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes. 

    Attorney General James would also like to thank Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi, the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force for their assistance throughout the investigation.

    The case is being prosecuted by OCTF Assistant Deputy Attorney General Joseph Barca under the supervision of Downstate OCTF Deputy Chief Lauren Abinanti, with the assistance of OCTF Legal Support Analysts Madeline Rosen, Alex DiGiacomo, and former Legal Support Analyst Christine Cintron. Nicole Keary is the Deputy Attorney General in Charge of OCTF. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado. Both the Investigations Division and the Division for Criminal Justice are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Defense of Fort Dobbs Remembered

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Defense of Fort Dobbs Remembered

    Defense of Fort Dobbs Remembered
    jejohnson6

    STATESVILLE
    Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will offer a glimpse of the harrowing days of the Anglo-Cherokee War on March 1 with a living-history commemoration.
     
    The 265th anniversary program will feature living-history interpreters portraying colonial soldiers and settlers around the time when up to 70 Cherokee warriors attacked the fort in a confusing night-time skirmish on Feb. 27, 1760. Until then, the Cherokee and British had been allies when the French and Indian War started.
    The commemoration will include musket and swivel cannon firing demonstrations and on-going demonstrations of life inside a blockhouse fort including woodworking and cooking.

    The free program will run 10 a.m.-4 p.m., but $2 donations are suggested. For more information, contact Fort Dobbs at (704) 873-5882 or www.fortdobbs.org.

    About Fort Dobbs
    Fort Dobbs State Historic Site’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Fort Dobbs (438 Fort Dobbs Rd, Statesville, NC) and North Carolina’s role in the French and Indian War. It is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Special events and living history weekends are offered throughout the year. It is part of the Division of N.C. State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Feb 19, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –