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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY MR ONG YE KUNG, MINISTER FOR HEALTH, AT THE SINGAPORE HEALTH & BIOMEDICAL CONGRESS 2024, ON THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER 2024, SINGAPORE EXPO

    Source: Asia Pacific Region 2 – Singapore

    Navigating Health Technology

    Mr Tan Tee How

    Board Chairman, National Healthcare Group

    Professor Joe Sim

    Group CEO, National Healthcare Group

    Dr David Ng

    Chairman, Organising Committee of the Singapore Health & Biomedical Congress 2024

    Ladies and gentlemen, friends, a very good morning

              It is my pleasure to join you at the Singapore Health and Biomedical Congress.

    2.       Throughout human history, technological breakthroughs have always been doubled-edged swords. For example, the invention of the steam engine and spinning jenny ushered in the industrial revolution. World trade and GDP went up, but at the same time, there was oppression of workers which gave rise to Marxism, Communism, and the Cold War, which is still playing out today. 

    3.       Closer to the present times, the Internet makes infinite amounts of knowledge accessible to everybody, but with it comes cybercrime and a threat to the mental health of one whole generation. 

    4.       Healthcare is at the verge of a historical technological breakthrough. The unprecedented availability of data can fundamentally transform healthcare. 

    5.       In particular, I believe the convergence of three very powerful scientific and policy forces – genomics, AI (or artificial intelligence) and the focus on preventive care – these will have profound impact on healthcare when they come together.

    6.       Today, I will talk about how we are going to respond to the healthcare technological breakthrough, recognising that this will be a double-edged sword.

    Safeguarding the Downsides

    7.       Let me talk first about mitigating the key risks. I believe innovation can only take off in its fullest potential only when we know we are protected against the main risks. There are two significant ones in healthcare. 

    8.       First, the undermining of the moral and ethical mores of society. Genetics define the core make-up of a person. Advances in science have made it possible for genetic information to be easily and inexpensively mapped out, and even for the genes to be manipulated. 

    9.      Hence, defective genes can now be edited to treat diseases. But the same technology could theoretically be used to design babies before they are born, or select employees and grant university and medical school places, based on genetic qualities. It is not impossible.

    10.    Insurers can use genetic information to decide on insurance coverage – how much can you be charged and what to exclude. That undermines the whole purpose of insurance, which is to protect us against unexpected bad luck, including being dealt with a bad genetic hand at birth. 

    11.    That is why the Ministry of Health (MOH) has worked with the Life Insurance Association to put in place a ‘Moratorium on Genetic Testing and Insurance’, which disallows the use of genetic test results for insurance underwriting. At some point, we need to strengthen the moratorium and give it some permanence.

    12.    MOH is therefore working on new legislation to govern the use of genetic and genomic test data. It aims to address the potential undesirable outcomes, such as the discriminatory use of genetic information in areas such as insurance and employment. We will conduct broad consultations and hope to submit the Bill to Parliament in the next one to two years.  

    13.    The second major risk is the escalation of healthcare costs. Genomics has made precision medicine possible. This means tailoring medical treatment to the unique genetic qualities of a patient to treat serious diseases like cancer. But because this is tailor-made treatment, precision medicine can be very expensive, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per treatment.

    14.     In healthcare, the language of innovation is quite different from most other sectors. In other  sectors, innovation means better performance or quality, at the same or even lower price. Just look at the performance and prices of semiconductor chips, TVs, smart phones, laptops and automobiles over the decades, and we understand the value and benefit of innovation.

    15.     However, in healthcare, innovation often means something else. It means increasing the chances of treating a serious disease, or prolonging quality life, at a higher cost. This is the double-edged dimension of precision medicine.

    16.    In time, precision medicine will increasingly become mainstream clinical practice. However, I don’t think any healthcare financing system in this world is designed to fully fund precision medicine. This means that left on its own, it is very likely that only the rich will be able to afford precision medicine, leading to serious inequity in healthcare. 

    17.    We are therefore taking steps to embrace precision medicine, and prepare for the day when it becomes mainstream and do it in a sustainable way. 

    18.     For example, we are investing in local capabilities to develop precision medicine treatments, shorten production times and lower costs in the near future. 

    19.     We have strengthened health technology assessment to robustly evaluate the cost effectiveness of high-cost treatments, including precision medicine. Even if the medicine increases the chance of a treatment that can prolong quality life, but costs so much more, we can conclude that it is not cost-effective. Where they are proven to be clinically and cost effective, we will subsidise these therapies.   

    20.    The MediShield Life Council is releasing their recommendations next week. on the review of MediShield Life. They are releasing the report next week, but let me break some of the news that they are going to recommend. They have recommended for MediShield Life coverage to be extended to approved precision medicine therapies. 

    21.    MOH intends to accept this recommendation. That way, the approved precision medicine therapies or high-cost therapies can be  brought into our subsidy, MediShield Life and MediSave, or S+2M, support framework, and all Singaporeans can benefit from these therapies. 

    22.     Mitigating the risks of technological breakthrough is often a reactive necessity, but harnessing its opportunities to transform healthcare requires proactive enterprise. 

    23.     For the rest of my speech today, I will focus on the upside of breakthrough technology in healthcare. There are three aspects:

    • First, applying AI in health institutions;
    • Second, developing predictive preventive care; and
    • Third, building up the IT infrastructure systems to enable these capabilities.  

    AI-Enhanced Healthcare

    24.    First, how we apply AI in hospitals and clinics.

    25.    Healthcare has an advantage in embracing technology because it is a highly regulated sector. Contrast this with the creative industry, where AI is almost wreaking havoc. You can use publicly available AI tools to create a song in the style of say, Taylor Swift, sung in her voice. and even create her image Or you can make a dead actor come to life. and star in a movie. All this is possible. It undermines artistic creation, and the genie is already out of the bottle. I don’t think you can bottle it back.

    26.     In healthcare, because we are so well regulated and we have so many well-established laws and regulations, you can ensure there is always clinical gatekeeping, and the judgment of a healthcare professional is never disintermediated.

    27.     Our basic approach is therefore to ensure healthcare can be AI-enabled or AI-enhanced, but not AI-decided.

    28.     That said, we also cannot swing to other extreme, hemming ourselves in with rules and regulations, and failing to harness the opportunities of AI. We must proactively identify use cases for AI in healthcare and adapt our rules and regulations to facilitate them.

    29.      Part of this effort is to encourage ground-up innovation by our public healthcare clusters. I can see that the National Healthcare Group is doing a lot of it. During my regular visits to hospitals and polyclinics, a key highlight is to witness how such innovations are being done on the ground.

    30.      For example, at Sengkang General Hospital, doctors are using AI to detect polyps in patients undergoing colonoscopy. The polyps are automatically highlighted in green boxes and appear on the screen. I was there with Dr Koh Poh Koon and he was so excited. It is like having an extra pair of eyes to detect the polyps. This has helped increase detection rates by endoscopists, and also made their job easier as it is less strenuous.

    31.     At Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, AI tools will analyse the vital signs of warded patients and send predictive warnings to doctors and nurses of possible worsening conditions. I met a nurse who was holding four phones and two walkie-talkies. She said that each one is for a different pilot and one particular phone is for warning her if any patient has a possibility of a worsening condition in the next 12 hours. This AI tool has reduced the number of ICU admissions of warded patients from the wards by over 10%.

    32.      Doctors at Geylang Polyclinic are using imaging AI to triage chest X-rays. This helps them to prioritise the X-rays with significant abnormalities, allowing patients with more urgent conditions to see a doctor more quickly.

    33.      To support ground up innovation initiatives, MOH will inject about $200 million over the next five years into the MOH Health Innovation Fund. This is over and above the government’s investments in research and development through the Research, Innovation and Enterprise initiative.

    34.     However, if we want to make a strong impact with technology, we got to go beyond ground up innovation. Some centralised push will be necessary. MOH will identify proven and impactful technology or use cases, and scale them up into system-wide, national projects. We will start with two projects.

    35.     First, we will use generative AI to reduce toil. One immediate opportunity is to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as routine documentation and reviewing of medical records.

    36.     It is essential for healthcare professionals to do that for every patient, to keep their medical history up to date. But it takes up a lot of time. Further, many patients thought that the doctor or nurse is busy on their computer and is not paying attention to them, when they are actually carefully listening to and updating the record of the patients at the same time.

    37.     AI tools can now automatically transcribe and summarise conversations between healthcare professionals and patients, and then ingest this information into medical records.

    38.     The information will still have to be reviewed by a healthcare professional, before becoming official medical records. That is what I meant when I said AI-enabled and not AI-decided. It will therefore not replace the human, but will enhance our efficiency.

    39.     GovTech has developed a tool to do this, called Scribe, which can handle English, Malay, Chinese, and even Singlish, and it will be progressively rolled out to more public healthcare users. Our health clusters have also adopted various tools to do this.

    40.     MOH will coordinate the effort of our public health institutions to roll out automated record updating throughout our public healthcare system, before the end of 2025.

    41.     With that, our doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and medical social workers can spend more time interacting with patients and hopefully, will not be mistaken as being preoccupied with their computer screens and keyboards.

    42.     Second, use AI for imaging, to improve quality of care. I mentioned earlier how our hospitals are using AI for chest X-rays and colonoscopy. We can make these standard practices across our system.

    43.     A word of caution here: imaging AI is very powerful and can pick up even the most minute anomalies, but not all anomalies seen in a scan are clinically significant. We should not try to respond to every anomaly detected – it will just raise unnecessary patient anxiety and lead to excessive and unproductive care. We will create a nation of hypochondriacs.

    44.     There is a phrase to describe this. It was taught to me by Professor Kenneth Mak. It is called V.O.M.I.T., which stands for Victims of Modern Imaging Technology. Hence, we should use AI imaging technology responsibly, to detect and follow up only on clinically significant signs. That way, we can detect these signs earlier, and manage them in good time before they become serious, without causing unnecessary worry and alarm.

    45.      Other than colonoscopy and chest X-rays, we will also evaluate how AI image analysis can be adopted for screening mammography.

    46.      If proven effective, from end 2025, we will start progressive rollout of screening using AI for mammography across the system, with the proper workflows and care pathways in place.

    47.    To accelerate its deployment, we have set up an IT platform, called AimSG. Through AimSG, public hospitals can access different imaging AI models through one single platform and monitor the performance of the models.

    Developing Predictive Preventive Care

    48.   Second, we will use AI to deliver predictive preventive care.

    49.    There is well known correlation between current risk factors and future diseases. For example, if you smoke or vape, you are more likely to develop many chronic diseases, including cancer or dementia. If you do not exercise and consume too much sugar, you are predisposed to diabetes. If a teenager is deprived of sleep and spends a lot of time on social media, he or she is at higher risk of developing depression.

    50.    With AI, it is now possible to have disease prediction models that are far more sophisticated and multi-variate, including parameters such as health status, lifestyles, social economic circumstances. The addition of genetic information can make such models even more powerful. 

    51.     In Singapore, about 60 people every day have a heart attack or stroke. With enough data and a well-trained model, it can be possible to pre-warn many of these individuals well ahead of time. We can then prescribe precautionary measures, including changes to their lifestyles or taking some medication.

    52.      We can therefore avoid pain and suffering in a very significant way. It is a major transformation. We need to be careful with predictions, if not it can also cause a lot of unnecessary worry and alarm. We should therefore proceed deliberately but cautiously.

    53.     We will start with the first use case, which is Familial Hypercholesterolemia, or FH. FH is caused by defects in our genes that affect the way the body processes cholesterol. Individuals with this condition are more prone to having very high cholesterol levels. They are 20 times more likely to have a heart disease, and at much higher risk of experiencing a heart attack at a much younger age. It is also hereditary, meaning it can be passed down in families.

    54.      We are starting with FH for this use case, because it is relatively straightforward for us to tell if someone has FH through a genetic test. It is a panel test. The association between the genetic mutations and abnormally high cholesterol levels is also very well established for FH.

    55.      MOH has been working with Precision Health Research, Singapore (PRECISE) and our hospitals over the last year, to design an appropriate predictive preventive care pathway for FH.

    56.      Healthier SG family doctors and polyclinics will help identify patients with abnormally high cholesterol levels and recommend them to be tested for the defective gene for FH. The test will be subsidised and the remainder can be paid using MediSave.

    57.      If an individual tests positive for FH, their parents, siblings and children will be encouraged to undergo the same test. Not the spouse – for obvious reasons – but parents, siblings, and children. This is called cascade screening. By repeating this process, we can pick up as many people in Singapore with the genetic disorder early.

    58.      We will then advise them to adopt healthier lifestyles as early as possible and start cholesterol lowering therapies, if necessary, to reduce their risk of premature heart diseases.

    59.      As a matter of fiscal discipline, our health economists at MOH have done the sums.  Essentially, we are incurring more costs to do genetic screening and support preventive care. In return, we avoid the costs in treating heart attacks. Our estimation shows that over a 30-year period, we will incur about $14,000 to avoid a heart attack, which is considered cost-effective. This is a pure fiscal calculation.

    60.      However, in time to come, as the cost of genetic tests continues to fall, we get better at identifying affected individuals, we can test once but use the results to prevent a few diseases, such a predictive preventive care approach may become not just cost-effective, I think it can become cost-saving. This is before counting the avoided pain and suffering.

    61.      We will start implementing the FH use case from the middle of next year, including setting up a Genetic Assessment Centre. If successful, we will work on other major severe diseases, the possibilities are breast and colon cancers, diabetes, kidney failure, stroke and heart attacks. They will require sophisticated, high-parameter, and multi-variate AI models to be trained. 

    62.      This is predictive preventive care. We will not be able to implement this if we have not invested in genomics research for many years, and we will not be able to do this now if we had not set up the Healthier SG system, which gives us a policy implementation platform.

    63.      Just think about this – behind the scenes we leverage the wizardry of AI and its predictive powers. At the front end it is a friendly interface, through Healthier SG and through our family doctors.

    64.     Family doctors will be alerted by the backend systems if their patients are at high risk of specific severe conditions. The doctors would therefore be able to take the necessary medical actions, to counsel and advise the patients on what to do, to avoid a serious disease in the future.

    65.      With new technology, we enable the family doctor to deliver better care, and empower individuals to better take care of our own health.

    Building Up IT Infrastructure

    66.     Finally, we will build up the necessary IT infrastructure to underpin these new capabilities I talked about.

    67.     As we use a large amount of data to transform healthcare delivery and prevent severe disease, there will inevitably be concerns about data security and privacy.

    68.     We had a serious health data breach in 2018. Since then, we have thoroughly reviewed our IT systems and processes, and have been investing heavily in cyber security. For security reasons, I won’t be able to elaborate on what we have done, but let me cite two commonly known initiatives.

    69.     Number one, we have stored our healthcare data onto dedicated clouds managed by GovTech and Synapxe, where we have full control of the data.

    70.     Two, our office devices are not fully connected to the Internet. Healthcare staff use a virtual browser to access whitelisted internet sites. Although inconvenient, this is one of the simplest and most effective cybersecurity measure.

    71.     As for safeguarding data privacy, the government developed the TRUST data exchange two years ago. This is a national platform where datasets can be shared for purposes of research.

    72.     Through TRUST, patients’ identity and identifiers are removed from various datasets according to government anonymisation standards. Researchers have to submit a detailed request to access data for research and if approved, the requested data will be brought together in the secure TRUST environment to allow analysis. Researchers cannot download any of the data and once the analysis is done, the data is deleted.

    73.    In the coming years, we will further develop our IT systems to power up innovation, while ensuring cybersecurity and data privacy.

    74.    The first major development is a consolidated Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system throughout the public healthcare system. Two out of our three health clusters are already using the same EMR system. The final cluster will come on in a few years’ time.

    75.     By then, I think Singapore will probably be the only country in the world where the entire public healthcare system uses the same EMR System. This will increase the accessibility and quality of data collected at every step of a patient’s journey, to better inform doctors’ decisions across institutions and settings.

    76.     At the same time, AI tools will be accessible and integrated into the EMR system, to be part of the clinical and operational workflow. It will be embedded and you don’t have to toggle between screens or between software and systems.

    77.     Second, we will develop the IT platform to train and develop AI tools. As you know, AI capabilities are strictly speaking not developed or built. They emerge after being trained and continuously refined using real-life data. So as you train an AI model, sometimes they surprise us by doing things that we didn’t intend them to do, and their capabilities emerge.

    78.     This is done through a new platform called HEALIX, which stands for Health Empowerment through Advance Learning and Intelligent eXchange. It will enable the secure sharing of up-to-date, consistent and anonymised clinical, socio-economic, lifestyle, healthcare operations and genomic data.

    79.     With these data, HEALIX will train various AI and machine learning tools, including for predictive preventive care initiatives I mentioned earlier. HEALIX will be the AI technology factory of the healthcare system.

    Closing

    80.     Today’s speech verges on being esoteric but is probably the most significant I made this year. Because it is many years in the making, it is about the future, it is about a positive transformation of healthcare.

    81.      I speak before many learned and experienced participants. I hope what I have painted is a sufficiently ambitious plan that is befitting of the technological era that we are living in.

    82.      If I have, it is due to the work of many experts and agencies, over many years. We have been building this block by block, step by step – from EMR in one cluster, to two clusters, to three, and TRUST to Healthier SG and HEALIX – and now we have a strategic plan for the future.

    83.     We embarked on this journey because we have been compelled by necessity, for Singapore is ageing very fast and the status quo is unsustainable. Indeed, necessity is the mother of invention.

    84.     I hope this spirit of innovation and hunger will continue to grow in the healthcare sector and spread to every venture that Singapore embarks on. With this spirit and hunger, I hope we can achieve 15 million years of good life. Thank you very much and I wish you a successful conference. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare celebrates World Mental Health Day and two years of Tele MANAS

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Health & Family Welfare celebrates World Mental Health Day and two years of Tele MANAS

    Theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day Prioritises Mental Health at Workplace

    Tele MANAS Mobile App, WHO’s Tele MANAS Rapid Assessment Report and a Selfcare Module for Employees released

    Posted On: 10 OCT 2024 3:51PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Health Ministry celebrated the completion of two years of National Tele Mental Health Programme, Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking across States (Tele MANAS) on World Mental Health Day, here today. The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is: “It is time to prioritize Mental Health at Workplace”.

    Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary, MoHFW & Managing Director, National Health Mission (NHM) launched the Tele MANAS app and Tele MANAS video call facility in the presence of Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to India, Shri Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary, MoHFW, Dr. Partima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and other senior officers from the Ministry.

    Tele MANAS app is a comprehensive mobile platform that has been developed for providing support for mental health issues. The app has a library of information including tips on self-care, recognizing distress signals, managing early signs of stress, anxiety, and emotional struggles. It facilitates engagement of the user through mind challenges, games and mindfulness practices providing a user-friendly experience. The app will help users connect for free and get confidential mental health support through trained mental health professionals across India, 24×7 for immediate counseling.

    Video consultations in Tele MANAS is another upgrade to the already existing audio calling facility. This will be undertaken by the mental health professionals who are taking audio call escalations to get further information about the caller as part of history taking and clarification. This can also enable a brief physical examination or a Mental State Examination (MSE) for the caller to confirm any findings. This facility will be initially launched in the states of Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir and Tamil Nadu and later scaled up to the whole country.

     

    In her inaugural address, Smt. Aradhana Patnaik stated that “Mental health is fundamental to health and plays a crucial role in enabling individuals, families and communities to function at their highest level, work productively and contribute to society. Unhealthy work environments and other unfavorable working conditions have an impact on one’s general health, well-being, mental health, and involvement or productivity at work. There is a need for creating a good work environment and work-life balance for more productive results in the workplace.”

     

    She stated that “Tele MANAS has reached a significant milestone, having handled over 14.5 lakh calls since its launch.”

    Underlining the importance of adolescent mental health and issues faced by the adolescent population, Smt. Patnaik stressed “the need for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC)  to ensure awareness about the Tele MANAS App”. 

    Talking about mental health in the workplace, Dr. Roderico H. Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, stated that issues like gender inequity, disrespectful unsupportive colleagues, lack of work-life balance, and job satisfaction lead to mental health challenges for the employees in the workplace. He emphasized the responsibility of employers and managers to create a supportive work environment.

    Congratulating the Ministry for two years with the successful implementation of Tele-MANAS, he stated that “WHO review of Tele-MANAS has shown a successful model for mental health. It has the potential to work well. The primary healthcare especially the Ayushmann Arogya Mandirs have proven to be successful in improving mental health and well-being of the people”. He also highlighted the importance of collective efforts of all stakeholders to enhance mental health at the workplace. 

    Tele MANAS reflects the government’s commitment to nurturing the nation’s mental well-being. The Tele MANAS toll-free helpline numbers 14416 or 1-800-891-4416 offer multi-language support in 20 languages and have been pivotal in facilitating communication between callers and mental health professionals.

    The Report of Tele MANAS rapid assessment by World Health Organizations (WHO) and a Selfcare Module for Employees titled ‘Taking charge of your mental health- because it matters” was also released at the event.

     

    In order to evaluate the performance and progress of Tele MANAS, a rapid assessment was organized by MoHFW in coordination with WHO India, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for South-East Asia (WHO SEARO), WHO Headquarters & NIMHANS. The assessment was based on desk reviews of national data and primary data collected from four states/Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha. The report appreciates the novel initiative of the Government of India and highlights some significant milestones achieved by Tele MANAS in providing mental health support and its robust technological architecture.

    The booklet ‘Taking Charge of Your Mental Health- Because It Matters” focuses on the efforts that individuals could make to maintain mental health and well-being. The booklet attempts to clear some of the misconceptions regarding mental health and offers a few strategies that individuals could try to explore by themselves. It also specifically focuses on stress arising out of difficult workplace situations.

     

    The event further had roundtable discussions with a variety of panelists coming from a diversified group of people that include Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Institutions such as National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), WHO, Industry associations such as Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)/ Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and NAT Health (Healthcare Federation of India), Development partners such as Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), organizations promoting wellness such as Art of Living Foundation and Arogya World, and Civil society organization like Jan Sahas.

    The topics discussed during the sessions included policies and frameworks to foster mental health resilience at workplaces; Mental Wellbeing at Informal Workplaces / Challenges, Opportunities, and Inclusive Solutions; and Preventive Mental Health- The Role of Holistic Practices in Promoting Well-being. The panelists also explored the role of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) & Tele MANAS in promoting mental health support. Furthermore, Union Health Ministry has sought active participation from other Ministries of the Government to implement employee engagement activities designed to support mental health in the workplace.

     

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    HFW/Tele MANAS app launched at World Mental Health Day Celebration/10th October 2024/1

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri George Kurian Inaugurated Animal Quarantine & Certification Service at Cochin International Airport in Kerala : Aims to facilitate “Ease of Living” for Pet travelers

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 10 OCT 2024 3:46PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri George Kurian inaugurated the newly established Animal Quarantine & Certification Service (AQCS) at Cochin International Airport (CIAL) in Kochi, Kerala today. This facility is a significant step in facilitating the import of pet dogs and cats, aligning with the Government’s commitment to enhancing the “Ease of Living” for pet owners.

    On this occasion, Union Minister of State Shri George Kurian invited suggestions from various stakeholders for further improving import and export processes for livestock, fishery products and related activities which is expected to boost economic activity in the region.

    In support of this initiative, Cochin International Airport has established several facilities including a 24-hour air-conditioned pet station, a dedicated cargo section, a veterinary doctor on call, a customs clearance center and a facilitation center for travelers accompanying pets. This new service marks a crucial advancement in supporting pet travelers and improving overall import and export processes related to animal and fishery products in Kerala.

    During the event an agreement was signed by Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying with CIAL for operating the Animal Quarantine facilities. Managing Director of CIAL, Mr. S. Suhas said that the decision will greatly benefit travelers accompanied by pets. This partnership aims to streamline the process, providing world-class services for pet owners and travelers making it easier to bring animals into Kerala.

    The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying regulates the import of livestock and livestock products under the Livestock Importation Act of 1898, amended in 2001, with a focus on preventing the introduction of exotic diseases into India. At present, live animals, including pets, are imported through six major entry points where AQCS stations are located: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. This new facility at Cochin International Airport will reduce the cost and effort for pet owners importing animals into Kerala, offering them a more convenient option.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Joint Statement on Strengthening ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Stability and Prosperity in the Region in the context of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) with the support of India’s Act East Policy (AEP)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 OCT 2024 5:41PM by PIB Delhi

    WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of India, gathered on the occasion of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit on 10 October 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR;

    REAFFIRMING our commitment to promote the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, guided by the fundamental principles, shared values and norms that have steered the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations since its establishment in 1992, including those enunciated in the Vision Statement of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (2012), the Delhi Declaration of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit to mark the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations (2018), the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Region (2021), the Joint Statement on ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022), the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Maritime Cooperation (2023) and ASEAN-India Joint Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises (2023);

    WELCOMING the Decade of Act East Policy of India, where ASEAN is at the heart and of utmost priority, which has contributed to advancing ASEAN-India relations through cooperation in areas of political-security, economic, cultural and people-to-people relations;

    ACKNOWLEDGING the deep civilisational linkages and cross-cultural exchanges, facilitated through both land and maritime routes between Southeast Asia and India, encompassing the various seas and oceans of the Indo-Pacific, providing a strong foundation for the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership;

    WELCOMING the activities and initiatives held in the year 2024 on the occasion of the decade of Act East Policy to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership;

    RECOGNISING India’s support for ASEAN Centrality and unity in the evolving regional architecture and its commitment to work closely through ASEAN-led mechanisms and fora including the ASEAN-India Summit, East Asia Summit (EAS), Post Ministerial Conference with India (PMC+1), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) as well as support to ASEAN integration and the ASEAN Community building process including Master Plan for ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP);

    NOTING the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution A/RES/78/69 which emphasises, in the Preamble, the universal and unified character of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and reaffirms that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and is of strategic importance as the basis for national, regional and global action and cooperation in the marine sector, and that its integrity needs to be maintained;

    APPRECIATING efforts towards implementation of the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Region through trust and confidence based on shared democratic values, strong belief in sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a shared commitment to the rule of law and the principles of the UN Charter;

    REAFFIRMING our commitment to upholding multilateralism, the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter and respect for international law, while recognising ASEAN’s rising global relevance and unique convening power amid the emerging multipolar global architecture and noting the growing and active role of India in major international economic and political affairs.

    Do hereby declare to

    1. Reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, and other lawful uses of the seas, including unimpeded lawful maritime commerce and to promote peaceful resolutions of disputes, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, and the relevant standards and recommended practices by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In this regard, we support the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and look forward to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS;

    2. Build on ongoing collaboration in defense and security within the framework of ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Plus, including the first ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) in 2023 and co-chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism (2024-2027), as well as noting the two initiatives announced at the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in 2022;

    3. Strengthen cooperation in maritime security, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, military medicine, transnational crime, defence industry, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping and demining operations and confidence building measures. This will be achieved through the exchange of visits, joint military exercise, maritime exercise, port calls by naval ships and defence scholarships;

    4. Advance the implementation of ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Maritime Cooperation and continue to cooperate on areas such as maritime security, blue economy, sustainable fisheries, marine environmental protection, marine biodiversity, and climate change issues, among others;

    5. Promote and work towards the strengthening of multilateralism through the UN and the multilateral processes to address global concerns, pursue shared goals and complementary initiatives, and promote sustainable development for the benefit of our peoples;

    6. Build on the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the AOIP for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Region by advancing cooperation between the AOIP and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI);

    7. Expedite the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more effective, user-friendly, simple, and trade-facilitative for businesses and relevant to the current global trading practices and promote mutually beneficial arrangements and strengthen economic cooperation between ASEAN and India;

    8. Promote diverse, secure, transparent and resilient supply chains while exchanging information on identifying and proactively addressing potential risks in supply chains in areas of mutual interest to promote sustainable development;

    9. Cooperate on emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain technology, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Quantum Computing, 6-G technology, building and strengthening of startups ecosystem with special emphasis on digital connectivity and financial technology;

    10. Welcome the launch of the ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future to support joint activities;

    11. Cooperate to unlock the full potential of safe, secure, responsible, trustworthy AI by promoting international cooperation and further discussions on international governance for AI, considering that the rapid progress of AI has the potential for prosperity and expansion of the global digital economy. We should endeavor to leverage AI for public good by solving challenges in a responsible, inclusive and human-centric manner while protecting people’s rights and safety;

    12. Note the proposal to celebrate the year 2025 as the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism to further strengthen people-to-people ties while recognising the crucial role of tourism in promoting sustainable socioeconomic development and economic prosperity, and as one of the vehicles for achieving the SDGs. In this endeavour, we support the implementation of the ASEAN-India Tourism Cooperation Work Plan 2023-2027, and to explore deeper cooperation to support joint programs for tourism education, training and research to build capacity and ensure a high-quality tourism industry. We also encourage the expansion of business networks among travel stakeholders, the practice of sustainable and responsible tourism, as well as the exchange of tourism trends and information. In addition, we support the enhancement of crisis communications, promotion of tourism investment opportunities, as well as development and joint promotion of niche markets, cruise tourism and tourism standards;

    13. Strengthen health systems by enhancing collaboration on public health including, inter alia, in the areas of research and development (R&D), public health emergency preparedness, training of healthcare professionals, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, vaccine security and self-reliance, vaccine development and production, as well as general and traditional medicine;

    14. Enhance cooperation in the field of environment, including biodiversity and climate change as well as explore cooperation in the field of energy security, including cooperation on clean, renewable, and low-carbon energy in line with the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2021-2025 and India’s renewable energy priorities, as well as other national models and priorities such as bio-circular-green development;

    15. Promote disaster and climate resilience of infrastructure systems through knowledge sharing and best practices, capacity building and technical assistance, which can be pursued such as through the framework of Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as well as the proposed Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) and National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) of India;

    16. Enhance connectivity between ASEAN and India in line with the “Connecting the Connectivities” approach, by exploring synergies between the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and its successor document, the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan (ACSP) and India’s connectivity initiatives in the region under India’s Act East Policy and Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision to ensure seamless connectivity in the Indo-Pacific by collaborating for quality, sustainable and resilient infrastructure and enhancing cooperation in transport in land, air, and maritime domains including through the early completion and operationalisation of the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway while looking forward to its eastward extension to Lao PDR, Cambodia and Viet Nam;

    17. Stressing the importance of strengthening multilateralism and comprehensive reform of the multilateral global governance architecture, including the United Nations and international financial architecture, international financial institutions, and multilateral development banks, to make them fit for purpose, democratic, equitable, representative and responsive to the current global realities and the needs and aspirations of the Global South;

    18. Call for an inclusive and balanced international agenda, that responds to the concerns and priorities of the Global South, recognising that the principle of ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’ (CBDR-RC) within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) applies to all relevant global challenges;

    19. Explore potential synergies with sub-regional frameworks, such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), Singapore-Johor-Riau (SIJORI) Growth Triangle, Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), and Mekong sub-regional cooperation frameworks, including Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) and Ayeyawady Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), and to support ASEAN and India’s efforts in promoting equitable development by aligning sub-regional growth with the comprehensive, mutual growth and development of ASEAN and India;

    20. Continue to work together on regional and global issues of common concern while endeavouring to strengthen our partnership through the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

    ***

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 OCT 2024 5:42PM by PIB Delhi

    WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of India, on the occasion of the 21st ASEAN-India Summit on 10 October 2024 in Vientiane, Lao PDR;

    REAFFIRMING our commitment to promote the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, guided by the fundamental principles, shared values and norms that have steered the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations since its establishment in 1992, including those enunciated in the Vision Statement of ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit (2012), the Delhi Declaration of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit to mark the 25th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations (2018), the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific for Peace, Stability, and Prosperity in the Region (2021), the Joint Statement on ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022), the ASEAN- India Joint Statement on Maritime Cooperation (2023) and ASEAN-India Joint Leaders’ Statement on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition in Response to Crises (2023);

    RECOGNISING the significant role of digital public infrastructure (DPI) in catalysing digital transformation and promoting inclusivity, efficiency, and innovation in public service delivery; connecting individuals, communities, industries, organizations and countries across geographies, taking into account different domestic and international contexts;

    RECOGNISING that technology can enable rapid transformations for bridging the existing digital divides in the region and accelerate progress for inclusive and sustainable development while promoting region’s economic integration;

    APPRECIATING the contribution made by India towards implementation of ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 (ADM 2025) and noteworthy achievements of cooperation activities in the successive ASEAN-India Digital Work Plans including through knowledge sharing and capacity building programmes and the establishment of Centers of Excellence in Software Development and Training in CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar & Vietnam) countries;

    ACKNOWLEDGING the leadership and significant advancements made by India in developing and implementing successful DPI initiatives, which have resulted in substantial social and economic benefits;

    ACKNOWLEDGING the development of the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2026-2030 (ADM 2030), to build upon the accomplishments of the ADM 2025, which aims to expedite digital transformation across ASEAN, to facilitate the seamless transition into the next phase of digital advancement by 2030, in line with the common goals of ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

    APPRECIATING India for setting up the ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future focusing on cooperation in digital transformation in ASEAN countries;

    Do hereby declare to strengthen cooperation in:

    1. Digital Public Infrastructure

    1.1 We acknowledge the opportunities for collaboration, with the mutual consent of ASEAN Member States and India, to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in the development, implementation, and governance of DPI by utilizing various kinds of platforms to promote DPI development across the region;

    1.2 We recognise potential opportunities for joint initiatives and projects that leverage DPI for regional development and integration;

    1.3 We shall explore collaboration to leverage DPI across sectors in addressing diverse challenges such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and climate action.

    2. Financial Technology

    2.1 We recognise that Financial Technology (FinTech) and innovation as vital drivers for the bilateral economic partnership:

    2.2 We aim to:

    a. Explore potential collaboration of cross-border linkages between payment systems in ASEAN and India through innovative digital solutions enabling digital service delivery available in India and ASEAN.

    b. Explore partnerships between national agencies for fintech innovations and support digital solutions, including digital financial solutions.

    3. Cybersecurity

    3.1 We recognize that cooperation in cybersecurity is a crucial part of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

    3.2 We welcome the establishment of the ASEAN India Track 1 Cyber Policy Dialogue and look forward to its first meeting in October this year;

    3.3 We intend to expand our cyber security cooperation to support digital economy. As we gradually move towards growing digital economies, we shall endeavour to ensure the security and resilience of digital infrastructure and services;

    4. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    4.1 We support collaboration the development of necessary knowledge, skills, infrastructure, risk management frameworks and policies to effectively and responsibly leverage AI technologies and applications to harness the potential of AI advancements.

    4.2 We recognize that access to AI technologies including, but not limited to, computing, data-sets and foundational models is key to achieving sustainable development through AI. Therefore, we shall collaborate for democratisation of AI resources for social good in accordance with respective national laws, rules and regulations.

    4.3 We recognize that AI is changing job landscapes rapidly and there is a need for upskilling and reskilling the workforce. We support collaboration in capacity building on AI education initiatives, develop Al-focused vocational training programs, and create platforms for knowledge exchange to prepare the workforce for the future job market.

    4.4 We welcome collaboration to develop studies on governance, standards and tools to support and assess the achievement of fairness, robustness, equitable access and other mutually agreed principles of responsible AI to promote trustworthiness in artificial intelligence systems.

    5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

    5.1. We shall use the existing frameworks including the ASEAN India Digital Ministers’ Meeting for regular exchanges, workshops, seminars, training programs and other capacity building exercises focusing on relevant topics aimed at facilitating digital transformation;

    5.2. We support sharing knowledge about our respective digital solutions including DPI for mutual study and adaptation to our needs.

    6. Sustainable Financing and Investment

    6.1. While initially the activities shall be financed under ASEAN India Fund for Digital Future, being launched this year, we shall explore mechanisms for financing digital initiatives, including through public-private partnerships, international funding, and innovative financing models.

    7. Implementation Mechanism

    7.1. Task the relevant bodies of ASEAN-India to follow-up and implement this Joint Statement, in order to ensure cooperation between ASEAN and India for the advancement of digital transformation.

    ***

    MJPS/SR/SKS

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off Sahibganj-Howrah Intercity Express, Enhancing Rail Connectivity in Jharkhand

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Flags Off Sahibganj-Howrah Intercity Express, Enhancing Rail Connectivity in Jharkhand

    Sahibganj Station to Serve as First Halt in Jharkhand for Anand Vihar-Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express, Fulfilling Long-Standing Demand of Santhal Paragana Region

    Jharkhand Achieves 100% Electrification and 1,200 Kilometers of New Railway Lines in Last Decade, with ₹56,000 Crore Investment and Redevelopment of 57 Stations Underway

    Posted On: 10 OCT 2024 7:35PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw today presented a significant gift to the people of Jharkhand by flagging off the daily Sahibganj-Howrah Intercity Express through video conferencing. This new train service will connect Sahibganj to Howrah, covering a distance of 350 km in just 7 hours at an affordable fare of ₹125, providing considerable relief to the residents of Jharkhand. Currently, travelers spend ₹700 to ₹800 to journey from Sahibganj to Howrah by road. The introduction of this train service will not only simplify travel but also enhance business opportunities and employment in the region.

    The Railway Minister has given another gift to Jharkhand today. From today, the weekly Anand Vihar – Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express (20501), which travels from Anand Vihar in the national capital region to Agartala, has now stoppage at Sahibganj station in Jharkhand. Sahibganj will be the first stop of this train in the state, making it the only station in Jharkhand between Bihar and West Bengal where this train will stop. This was the long-standing demand of the people of Jharkhand, which has now fulfilled the dream of people.

    The Sahibganj-Howrah Intercity Express (13428) will operate daily between Sahibganj and Howrah stations. The train will make stops at Sakrigali, Tinpahar, Barharwa, Pakaur, Rampur Hat, Bolpur Shantiniketan, Barddhaman, and Bandel. The train will depart Sahibganj at 5:20 AM and arrive in Howrah at 12:15 PM. The return journey of this train (13427) will depart Howrah at 13:45 PM and arrive in Sahibganj at 20:35 PM. The train will be composed of 9 general coaches and 2 SLR/SLRD coaches.

    Agartala Anand Vihar-Agartala Tejas Rajdhani Express(20502) will have new stoppage at Sahibganj station on Malda Division. The train will stop at Sahibganj station at 13:56 PM on 15.10.2024 and depart at 13:58 PM. The return journey of this train (20501) will stop at Sahibganj station at 17:01 PM on 10.10.2024 and depart at 17:03 PM.

    While addressing the gathering, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said “the Santhal Pargana region has a long history and has made significant contributions to our struggle for independence. Jharkhand is a large state with a historical culture, and many industries across the country depend on Jharkhand for power supply. If we look at Jharkhand’s role in the history of independence, we should remember the contributions made over the last ten years under Modi’s leadership. Ten years ago, the railway budget allocation for Jharkhand was merely ₹450 crores, but today it has increased to ₹7,300 crores. This is a 16-fold increase in investment for the development of Jharkhand”.

    He further added that in last decade, 1,200 kilometres of railway lines have been constructed, and 100% electrification has been achieved in Jharkhand. The redevelopment of 57 stations is underway, and many new projects has been launched throughout the state. An investment of ₹56,000 crores is planned for the railway sector in Jharkhand. This will provide residents with better travel facilities, attract new industries, and create job opportunities. Students will have means to commute for their education, and those in need of medical services will also have access to transportation.

    While extending his best wishes to the residents of Sahibganj and the villages, towns, and cities along the route from Sahibganj to Howrah, the minister expressed his special gratitude to Shri Nishikant Dubey and Shri Anant Kumar Ojha for their commendable efforts in serving their respective regions. He acknowledged their continuous follow-up and commitment, not only to highlight challenges but also to bring forth effective solutions. This collaborative spirit has made it possible to inaugurate the new train service operating from Sahibganj to Howrah

    Shri Nishikant Dubey, Member of Parliament from Godda, was also present on this occasion via video conferencing at Rail Bhawan, while Shri Anant Kumar Ojha, Member of the Legislative Assembly from Rajmahal, Jharkhand, attended the event at Sahibganj Railway Station. Both leaders praised the railway initiatives introduced by the Railway Minister. Shri Dubey noted that trains had not operated at the Giridih railway station, which was built 140 years ago, until the Modi government took office. He emphasized that this development, along with the new services, provides the people of Jharkhand the opportunity to connect with three significant Shakti Peeths—Kamakhya, Tripura Sundari, and Kalighat—as a special gift during the Navratri festival.

    ****

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: State Highway 32 closed between Old Taupō Rd, Tokoroa and SH30

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    |

    State Highway 32 (SH32) is closed at Kinleith between Old Taupō Rd, Tokoroa and State Highway 30 (SH30) due to a serious crash.

    The closure point is north of the intersection with Albacore Road West.

    State Highway 1 (SH1) is also closed  between Tokoroa (SH32) and Kinleith (SH30) in both directions until Mid-November, for major renewal works.

    SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru maintenance

    Road users are advised to plan their journey.

    For northbound traffic, the detour is via Rotorua. Turn Right from SH1 onto SH30, left at the roundabout from SH30 onto SH5, then continue along SH5 until you rejoin SH1 in Tīrau.

    Southbound Traffic – detour via Rotorua as per above in reverse.

    The serious crash unit is on site and the road is expected to remain closed until early afternoon.

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Asphalt resurfacing for section of SH2 in Dannevirke

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    A section of State Highway 2 (SH2) in Dannevirke will be closed to northbound traffic for 4 days, while the road is resurfaced later this month.

    This asphalt resurfacing work will take place on SH2 Stanley Street, between Denmark Street and Miller Street from Tuesday 29 October.

    During day-time work hours, a detour will be in place for northbound traffic; southbound traffic will continue to flow freely on SH2. The detour is suitable for all vehicle types.

    Crews will be working from 6.30am to 5pm each day between Tuesday 29 October and Friday 1 November (weather permitting).

    During these work hours, northbound traffic will be detoured via Rawhiti Street, Queen Street, Allan Street and onto Cole Street, before rejoining SH2.

    A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place for southbound traffic near the worksite. Outside of work hours, SH2 will be open with a reduced speed limit in place.

    This resurfacing work will improve the durability and long-term condition of this section of road. A one-way daytime closure allows crews to complete the work as efficiently and safely as possible while keeping traffic moving, and minimising ongoing disruption and long delay times.

    Resident and business access remains and northbound road users are advised to follow the detour to get to your destination. The detour is expected to add less than 5 minutes to journey times.

    Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete this important road renewal work.

    We know that a well-maintained state highway network promotes safety and improves options for moving people and freight. 

    Other works underway or coming up on SH2

    • State Highway 2, rebuild: Work has begun on a section of SH2 at Matamau, near Factory Road, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go will be in place each day for about 4 weeks, finishing on 30 October.
    • State Highway 2, resurfacing: Asphalting works are underway on SH2 near the Mangatera Stream Bridge, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go is in place at night, with works expected to finish on Saturday 12 October.
    • State Highway 2, rebuild: From 31 October – 28 November, road rebuild work will take place on SH2 in Papatawa, north of Ball Road, between Woodville and Dannevirke. Daytime stop/go will be in place.

    More information about SH2 Dannevirke works

    For more information about the 2024/2025 road maintenance season, please visit:

    NZTA’s Manawatū-Whanganui maintenance and operations webpage

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Public health warning: viral gastroenteritis on the rise

    Source: New South Wales Health – State Government

    ​NSW Health is encouraging the community to stay on alert for symptoms of gastroenteritis, with testing and hospital data showing a significant rise in cases in recent weeks across the state.
    The increase is being driven by two pathogens which commonly cause vomiting and diarrhoea, rotavirus and norovirus. Rotavirus can be particularly severe in young children. Norovirus is common cause of outbreaks are common in residential aged care facilities, schools and child care centres.
    The latest testing data shows rotavirus notifications are at some of their highest levels in recent years.
    Director of NSW Health’s One Health branch Keira Glasgow said it’s important to reduce the spread of gastro before schools return next week.
    “Last week, there were more than 2,700 presentations to NSW emergency departments with symptoms of gastroenteritis. Presentations were particularly high in children who are under five years of age,” Ms Glasgow said.
    “The message to the community is clear – simple measures can help stop the spread of gastro. Maintaining good hand hygiene and keeping children at home when they are unwell will give us a good chance to slow the spread.”
    Viruses are spread from the vomit or stool (faeces) of an infected person. This can occur through close contact with unwashed hands, touching contaminated surfaces, when cleaning up body fluids, sharing of contaminated objects, consuming contaminated food or drink, and occasionally inhaling airborne particles when people vomit.
    Viral gastroenteritis symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, headache and muscle aches. They can take up to three days to develop and usually last between one or two days, and sometimes longer.
    Advice for parents and caregivers includes:

    Immunisation to prevent rotavirus infection is recommended and part of the childhood immunisation schedule. Immunisation is free for children under six months of age. The vaccine is given as two oral doses, at six weeks and four months of age, with completion of the course by 24 weeks of age.
    The main treatment for viral gastroenteritis is to rest and drink plenty of fluids. Most people recover without complications but more urgent care may need to be sought for infants, people with suppressed immune systems, and the elderly, who may experience more serious illness.
    View more information on how to prevent the spread of gastroenteritis.​

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Danny K. Davis, Mayors Rory Hoskins and Nathaniel Booker, Former State Senator Rickey Hendon, and State Representative Camille Lilly Stand United Against Project 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    Chicago, IL—Today, Congressman Danny K. Davis joined Mayors Rory Hoskins of Forest Park, Nathaniel Booker of Maywood, former State Senator Rickey Hendon, and State Representative Camille Lilly for a powerful press conference denouncing Project 2025’s dangerous implications. Standing together, the leaders warned about the devastating impact this extreme agenda could have on Illinois’s 7th Congressional District and called for unified action to protect their communities.

    Congressman Danny K. Davis: 

    “Project 2025 is an outright assault on the most vulnerable members of our district—low-income families, seniors, and children. This radical agenda seeks to dismantle the essential services that keep our communities afloat, from healthcare and education to food assistance and disaster preparedness. We cannot let this happen. Together, we will fight to ensure that the needs of our communities come first.”

    Mayor Rory Hoskins of Forest Park echoed Congressman Davis’s concerns, particularly focusing on the harmful effects Project 2025 would have on local education and healthcare programs. “The proposal to eliminate Title I funding will be catastrophic for our schools, putting the futures of thousands of children at risk. We stand with Congressman Davis in opposing this attack on our public education system.”

    Mayor Nathaniel Booker of Maywood added: “This plan strips away Medicaid and Medicare support from families who rely on it the most. It’s an attack on the basic human right to healthcare. The residents of Maywood deserve better, and we will fight for them.”

    State Representative Camille Lilly emphasized the broader impacts on Illinois residents, stating: “Project 2025 threatens to undermine decades of progress in reproductive rights, food security, and public services. We stand together today to say ‘no’ to this extreme agenda and ‘yes’ to the well-being of our families and our communities.”

    The leaders unanimously called for their constituents to stay vigilant and engaged, urging them to contact their representatives and demand that Project 2025 be stopped before it further endangers the welfare of the district and the state.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Eighteen Individuals and Entities Charged in International Operation Targeting Widespread Fraud and Manipulation in the Cryptocurrency Markets

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    First-ever criminal charges against financial services firms for market manipulation and “wash trading” in the cryptocurrency industry

    BOSTON – Eighteen individuals and entities have been charged for widespread fraud and manipulation in the cryptocurrency markets. Charges were unsealed in Boston against the leaders of four cryptocurrency companies, four cryptocurrency financial services firms (known as “market makers”) and employees at those firms.

    Four defendants have pleaded guilty, another defendant has agreed to plead guilty, and authorities apprehended three other defendants in Texas, the United Kingdom and Portugal this week. More than $25 million in cryptocurrency has been seized and multiple trading bots responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of wash trades for approximately 60 different cryptocurrencies have been deactivated.

    According to the charging documents, the defendants who created cryptocurrency companies made false statements about their cryptocurrencies (“tokens”) and executed sham trades in those tokens (“wash trades”) to create the appearance of trading activity that would make the tokens look like good investments. These deceptive tactics allegedly attracted new investors and purchasers, which resulted in an increase in the tokens’ trading prices. The defendants are then alleged to have sold their tokens at the artificially inflated prices, a fraud commonly known as a “pump and dump.” The largest of these cryptocurrency companies, Saitama, at one point had a multi-billion-dollar market value.

    The cryptocurrency companies also allegedly hired financial services firms ( “market makers”) to wash trade their tokens in exchange for payment. As one market maker defendant, who has agreed to plead guilty, described the practice to a prospective client: the “objective on the secondary markets” is to find “other buyers from the community, people you don’t know about or don’t care about” because “we have to make [the other buyers] lose money in order to make profit.”

    Three market makers—ZM Quant, CLS Global and MyTrade—along with their employees are charged with allegedly wash trading and/or conspiring to wash trade on behalf of NexFundAI, a cryptocurrency company and token created at the direction of law enforcement as part of the government’s investigation. A fourth market maker, Gotbit, its CEO, and two of its directors are also charged for perpetrating a similar scheme.

    Specifics regarding the defendants and conduct are detailed in Attachment A below.

    “This investigation, the first of its kind, identified numerous fraudsters in the cryptocurrency industry. Wash trading has long been outlawed in the financial markets, and cryptocurrency is no exception. These are cases where an innovative technology – cryptocurrency – met a century old scheme – the pump and dump. The message today is, if you make false statements to trick investors, that’s fraud. Period. Our Office will aggressively pursue fraud, including in the cryptocurrency industry,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy. “These charges are also a stark reminder of how vigilant online investors must be and that doing your homework before diving into the digital frontier is critical. People considering making investments in the cryptocurrency industry should understand how these scams work so that they can protect themselves.”

    “What the FBI uncovered in this case is essentially a new twist to old-school financial crime. ‘Operation Token Mirrors’ targeted nefarious token developers, promoters, and market makers in the crypto space. What we uncovered has resulted in charges against the leadership of four cryptocurrency companies, and four crypto ‘market makers’ and their employees who are accused of spearheading a sophisticated trading scheme that allegedly bilked honest investors out of millions of dollars,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The FBI took the unprecedented step of creating its very own cryptocurrency token and company to identify, disrupt, and bring these alleged fraudsters to justice.”

    If you bought or sold any of the tokens referenced below, please fill out this form.

    The Securities & Exchange Commission has filed civil complaints alleging violations of the securities laws in relation to the conduct at Gotbit, CLS, ZM Quant, Saitama and Robo Inu. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Legal Attachés (Madrid and London), Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria European Network of Fugitive Active Search Team (ENFAST), the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency’s National Extradition Unit, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and David M. Holcomb of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the cases.  

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.  

    ###
     

    ATTACHMENT A

    The following individuals and entities have been charged in U.S. District Court in Boston, Mass.:

    Aleksei Andriunin, Fedor Kedrov, Qawi Jalili, Gotbit Consulting LLC (Gotbit) – According to court documents, Gotbit was a well-known “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry. Aleksei Andriunin, 26, of Russia and Portugal, was Gotbit’s Chief Executive Officer and Founder. Andriunin was arrested on Oct. 8, 2024 in Portugal and awaits extradition. Fedor Kedrov, of Russia, was Gotbit’s Director of Market Making. Qawi Jalili, of Russia was Gotbit’s Director of Sales. Gotbit, Kedrov and Jalili are each charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. Andriunin is also charged in a separate criminal complaint with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    It is alleged that between 2018 and 2024, Gotbit provided market manipulation and wash trading services to several cryptocurrency companies, including companies located in the United States. Gotbit allegedly made wash trades worth millions of dollars on behalf of clients and received tens of millions of dollars in proceeds for these illicit services. In a 2019 interview published online, Andriunin allegedly described how he developed a code to wash trade and artificially inflate cryptocurrency trading volume. Andriunin allegedly kept track of Gotbit’s market manipulation, including with spreadsheets that compared “Created Volume” from wash trades with naturally occurring “Market Volume.” Gotbit’s employees, including Jalili and Kedrov, allegedly described these wash trading tactics to prospective clients and how to avoid detection. Jalili and Kedrov also allegedly provided these services to multiple cryptocurrencies, including the Saitama and Robo Inu cryptocurrencies.

    Riqui Liu, Baijun Ou, ZM Quant Investment LTD (ZM Quant) – ZM Quant was a “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry that allegedly advertised illicit market manipulation services to clients. Riqui Liu, 26, of the United Kingdom and Hong Kong, was an employee of ZM Quant. Baijun Ou, 32, of Hong Kong, was also an employee of ZM Quant. ZM Quant, Liu and Ou are each charged in a superseding indictment with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud.

    According to court documents, ZM Quant allegedly advertised a “trading bot” that could “create volume.” ZM Quant employees allegedly discussed these illicit services with clients through Telegram messages and during video teleconferences. For example, as alleged in the charging documents, during a video teleconference in March 2024, Liu and Ou described how ZM Quant would trade “maybe ten times per minute or twenty times a minute” to “increase the trading volume” and “pump the price.” Liu and Ou also described how ZM Quant allegedly used multiple trading wallets to avoid having the trading look “fake.” It is further alleged that ZM Quant provided market manipulation services for multiple cryptocurrency companies, including Saitama and NexFundAI.

    Andrey Zhorzhes, CLS Global FZC, LLC (CLS) – CLS was a “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry that allegedly advertised illicit market manipulation services to its clients. Andrey Zhorzhes, of the United Arab Emirates, was an employee of CLS. Both CLS and Zhorzhes are charged in an indictment with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud.

    It is alleged that Zhorzhes described to a prospective client how CLS’s algorithm generated trading volume on multiple cryptocurrency exchanges, as follows: 

    • “We have an algorithm that . . . basically does self-trades, buying and selling.”
    • “The idea of volume generation is . . . so the token looks organic and looks live and people get interested in trading it.”
    • “It’s very hard to track. . ..We’ve been doing that for many clients.”
    • “I know that it’s wash trading and I know people might not be happy about it.”

    Zhorzhes and other CLS traders allegedly provided these market manipulation services for NexFundAI.

    Liu Zhou, MyTrade MM – MyTrade MM was another “market maker” in the cryptocurrency industry that advertised illicit market manipulation services to its clients, including “pump and dump” consulting services and “wash trades” facilitated by “bots.” Liu Zhou, 39, of China and Canada, was the founder of MyTrade MM. Zhou is charged and has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud.

    MyTrade MM’s clients had access to a dashboard on MyTrade MM’s website through which clients specified the desired amount of daily wash trades on identified cryptocurrency exchanges. MyTrade MM’s dashboard described the service as “Volume Support” and allowed for millions in wash trades per day for each client cryptocurrency, for example:

    In conversations with purported promoters of NexFundAI, Zhou allegedly described MyTrade MM as superior to “CLS” and “Gotbit” because those market makers “keep clients in the dark” and “control the pump and dump,” which means “they can do inside trading easily.” Zhou allegedly also described the various purposes for wash trading, including showing “continuous trading activity every hour”; generating large enough trading volumes for cryptocurrency exchanges to waive listing fees; and executing “pump and dumps.” According to court documents, Zhou further described that the “objective on the secondary markets” was to find “other buyers from the community, people you don’t know about or don’t care about” because “we have to make [the other buyers] lose money in order to make profit.”

    Manpreet Kohli, Haroon Mohsini, Nam Tran, Max Hernandez, Russell Armand, Vy Pham, Saitama LLC (Saitama) – Saitama was a cryptocurrency company, originally incorporated in Massachusetts in August 2021.

    Manpreet Kohli, 43, of the United Kingdom, was the CEO of Saitama. Kohli was arrested in the United Kingdom on Oct. 7, 2024 and is awaiting extradition. Haroon Mohsini, 37, of Texas, also worked at Saitama. Mohsini was arrested on Oct. 7, 2024 in the Southern District of Texas. Nam Tran, 32, of Vietnam, worked at Saitama and is currently in Vietnam. Kohli, Mohsini and Tran are each charged in a superseding indictment with wire fraud, market manipulation, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, commit market manipulation and conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business. Max Hernandez, 36, of Massachusetts, and Russell Armand, 42, of Texas, also worked at Saitama and are charged separately and have both pleaded guilty to market manipulation and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Vy Pham, 32, of California, is also charged for conduct at a different cryptocurrency company but, as part of that guilty plea, admitted to certain conduct involving Saitama.

    Saitama allegedly purported to create a series of products that could be used with its token and, at its peak, boasted a market value of $7.5 billion. Saitama’s leadership allegedly made a variety of false public statements, including that Saitama’s business plan had been reviewed by regulators, that its leadership was not selling the Saitama tokens they owned and that the Saitama token was coded in a way that prevented market manipulation. According to charging documents, in reality Saitama’s leadership was actively manipulating the market for the Saitama token and secretly selling their Saitama tokens for tens of millions in profits.

    Saitama’s market manipulation campaign allegedly began in or about July 2021, when leadership coordinated a series of small purchases spread across multiple cryptocurrency wallets. These trades were coordinated on Telegram, where Armand allegedly explained that the goal was to “create an illusion of massive buys and new holders” to “incite ppl [people] to buy 
    more…W[e] want list of small buys to look like it’s mor[e] buyers. That’s the idea.” Saitama’s leadership allegedly confirmed their purchases to one another, discussed how they were successfully getting others to purchase the Saitama cryptocurrency and exchanged “pump it” memes and GIFs:

    Thereafter, the Saitama leadership allegedly paid several market makers to wash trade the Saitama cryptocurrency on cryptocurrency exchanges, including BitMart, LBank and XT.com. The market makers that Saitama paid allegedly included ZM Quant and Gotbit.

    Robo Inu Finance (Robo Inu) – Robo Inu was a cryptocurrency company and token that Vy Pham created after she left Saitama in 2021. Pham has been charged and agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit market manipulation, to commit wire fraud and to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Pham founded and promoted Robo Inu from the United States. Like Saitama, Robo Inu allegedly purported to create a series of products that could be used with its cryptocurrency. Beginning in or about 2022, Robo Inu allegedly paid Gotbit to artificially inflate the trading volume of the Robo Inu token through wash trades on cryptocurrency exchanges such as Bitmart.

    Michael Thompson, VZZN – VZZN was a cryptocurrency company and token that Armand created after he left Saitama in 2023. Michael Thompson, 50, of Virginia, also worked at VZZN. As with Armand, Thompson is charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit market manipulation. VZZN allegedly purported to be a video streaming service that could be used with the VZZN token. While promoting that service, Armand and Thompson allegedly also made misleading public statements about VZZN and artificially inflated the trading volume of the VZZN token through wash trades.

    Bradley Beatty, Lillian Finance LLC (Lillian Finance) – Lillian Finance was a cryptocurrency company and token founded by Bradley Beatty, 48, of Florida. Beatty is charged in an indictment with wire fraud. Lillian Finance allegedly purported to use blockchain technology in the healthcare industry and to use a portion of proceeds generated from token sales for charitable purposes. Beatty allegedly made a series of false statements about Lillian Finance to attract investors, for example, that he was a defense contractor and that he had addressed Congress on the topic of cryptocurrency. Thereafter, it is alleged that Beatty generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds from retail sales of the Lillian Finance token and misappropriated a portion of Lillian Finance’s profits that were supposed to be used for charity.

    The charge of market manipulation provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $5 million or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense and forfeiture. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, market manipulation and/or to conduct an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000 to twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the criminally derived property, whichever is greater, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Charged in Elder Fraud Conspiracy That Defrauded Elderly Victim of Over $400,000

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)

    BOSTON – A South Boston man has been arrested and charged in connection with a scheme that defrauded a 75-year-old man from Berkshire County, Mass., of approximately $420,000.

    Urvishkumar Vipulkumar Patel, 21, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Patel was arrested on Oct. 7, 2024 and subsequently released by the Court on conditions including GPS monitoring and orders that he remain in Massachusetts.

    According to the charging documents, in or around June 2024, the victim received a pop-up message on his computer claiming that his computer was frozen. The message contained a phone number, which the victim believed to be associated with Microsoft, and directed the victim to call for assistance. The victim then called the phone number listed in the pop-up and allegedly spoke with an individual before being transferred to another individual who called himself, “Sam Wilson.”

    It is alleged that Wilson claimed to be a federal agent with the U.S. Treasury Department and purported to confirm the victim’s name and address. When the victim stated that was not the correct address, Wilson provided additional addresses until the victim identified his correct address. Wilson then allegedly told the victim that the victim’s name and address were listed as being involved in a money laundering scheme and that the “Treasury” showed a number of houses had been purchased in the United States and Russia in the victim’s name. Wilson allegedly told the victim that he was going to help him get out of this trouble and would speak to a judge but that, in the meantime, the victim needed to safeguard his money from being further implicated in the supposed money laundering scheme. Specifically, Wilson allegedly told the victim he should withdraw cash from his bank and send it to the Treasury Department, where it would be kept in a lock box until the victim was cleared of the scheme. Wilson also allegedly cautioned that the bank would not let the victim withdraw all of his money at once – directing the victim to make the withdrawals in smaller amounts and send it to Wilson at the “Treasury” in installments.

    On approximately five separate occasions over the course of three months, the victim withdrew and provided approximately $420,000 in cash to several individuals he believed to be associated with “Sam Wilson.” On each occasion, Wilson asked the victim how much he could withdraw from his bank account, directed the victim to place the cash in a taped box with the victim’s own name and address written on it. Wilson also allegedly told the victim a specific date and time at which he would send a courier for the cash. On each occasion, the courier would pull alongside the curb in front of the victim’s house, lower one of the passenger side windows and provide a prearranged “PIN” passcode to the victim. The victim would then place the box of cash into the courier’s vehicle who would then drive away.  

    The victim’s sister reported this activity to law enforcement on Oct. 1, 2024. According to the charging documents, on Oct. 7, 2024, Patel served as the courier waiting outside of the victim’s home and was approached by an undercover officer posing as the victim. It is alleged that, after receiving the prearranged “PIN” passcode from Patel, the undercover officer placed the box into Patel’s vehicle and Patel quickly drove away. He was immediately apprehended.

    At the time of his arrest, Patel was allegedly driving a rental car and was actively engaged in a WhatsApp call on his cell phone. Patel allegedly told law enforcement that he had been collecting packages for weeks at the direction of another individual in exchange for payment. Patel also allegedly told law enforcement that he would deliver each package to a prearranged location before receiving his payment.

    The investigation remains ongoing. Members of the public who believe they are victims of a cybercrime – including elder fraud scams, cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment scams, and business email compromise fraud scams – should contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov. To report elder fraud, please visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–8311 Monday – Friday, 10a.m.- 6p.m. EST.

    The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the North Adams Police Department and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Prominent Law Enforcement Groups Back Rep. Gabe Vasquez’s Bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    National Fraternal Order of Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s union and more endorsed Vasquez’s bill

    LAS CRUCES, N.M. – U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) announced the support of several prominent law enforcement organizations for his bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Actthatprovides increased funding, technology and staffing for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to keep our communities safe and combat the growing fentanyl crisis. Endorsements include the National Fraternal Order of Police, National Association of Police Organizations, National Treasury Employees Union (representing CBP officers), National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, and Major County Sheriffs of America.

    These groups, representing thousands of officers and law enforcement professionals on the front lines of the opioid crisis, support Vasquez in his efforts to combat fentanyl smuggling and stop the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.

    “Having the support of the men and women in law enforcement who work to protect our communities is an important endorsement to stop this crisis at the source. Fentanyl is having a tragic impact on young people and our families. I’m grateful for law enforcement’s support of my bill to combat fentanyl smuggling,” said Vasquez. “My bipartisan Stop Fentanyl at the Border Actprovides additional screening resources and staff to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to help save lives. This is not a partisan issue, we must come together to prevent further tragedy, overdoses and death.”

    The Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act provides increased funding for personnel, advanced inspection technology and equipment to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ensuring that officers have the resources to effectively detect and stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States. This bipartisan bill also addresses the illegal exportation of goods, firearms and currency, which are often tied to drug trafficking networks.

    “Our law enforcement members are the first line of defense against the scourge of fentanyl that comes across the American border each day,” said Patrick Yoes, President of theNational Fraternal Order of Police. “On behalf of more than 377,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, I thank you both for your leadership on the issue.” 

    “The Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act provides much needed support, resources, and funding to the southwest border to help federal, state, and local law enforcement fight the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the country,” said William J. Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organization (NAPO). “Law enforcement at all levels of government have long been asking for these resources to support their efforts to prevent and detect fentanyl coming into this country and our communities. NAPO continues to fight for resources to support law enforcement’s efforts to combat fentanyl, its analogues, and similar opioids. We thank [Rep. Vasquez] for your leadership on this issue and we look forward to working with you to pass this important legislation.”

    The opioid crisis continues to devastate hundreds of thousands of American families as deadly, illicit narcotics are smuggled into the county. Fentanyl-related overdoses are responsible for over 70,000 deaths a year in the United States. Vasquez’s bill addresses CBP’s lack of necessary personnel, technology and resources to prevent these deadly substances from entering the United States.

    Vasquez’s Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act remains a key part of his broader commitment to safeguard New Mexico’s families and address the opioid crisis. The bill has gained momentum as it continues to receive bipartisan support and endorsements from law enforcement professionals dedicated to ending the fentanyl epidemic.

    In Congress, Vasquezhas worked across the aisle to find real solutions to these problems, securing over $280 million for border security, voting to add 22,000 new Border Patrol agents and introducing a series of bipartisan bills that would improve security at ports of entry, crack down on cartels and ensure that those who work hard and play by the rules have an opportunity for legal citizenship.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: New survey of IPCC authors reveals doubt, and hope, that world will achieve climate targets

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Seth Wynes, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, University of Waterloo

    How hot is it going to get?

    This is one of the most important and difficult remaining questions about our changing climate. The answer depends not only on how sensitive our climate is to greenhouse gases, but also on how much carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases we as a civilization choose to emit over coming decades.

    In order to help think more clearly about this question, we asked authors who have contributed to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to share their best guesses about where the world is headed.

    The results of our recently published study show that most of the responding climate experts believe our planet will likely exceed the 1.5 C and “well-below 2 C” warming targets agreed upon by the international community.

    In fact, the median estimate was 2.7 C by 2100, which is roughly what is expected if the world’s nations fail to implement new policies consistent with their targets and pledges, and instead only maintained existing levels of action.



    Read more:
    How mainstream climate science endorsed the fantasy of a global warming time machine

    To put it plainly, this could be a catastrophic outcome for humanity. We’ve already seen devastating consequences like more flooding, hotter heatwaves and larger wildfires, and we’re only at 1.3 C above preindustrial levels — less than halfway to 2.7 C.

    But not all authors think alike and to help shed further light on the IPCC report process, and any differences of opinion between authors, we conducted a survey over email with 211 authors of past reports providing responses. Our participants represented all IPCC working groups, and every inhabited continent.

    The data they shared provides a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of modern climate science.

    Wide ranging beliefs

    Our survey shows that authors shared a wide range of estimates as to likely climate outcomes.

    A small number of surveyed experts believe that staying below 2 C is still likely, while others believed that we are on track for even more horrendous levels of climate warming at above 3 C. Approximately 86 per cent of participants estimated warming of more than 2 C by or before the year 2100.

    When we planned the study, we wondered whether IPCC authors who worked on climate solutions would be more optimistic than those who worked on climate vulnerability and adaptation. One reason for this is that experts who work on solutions might be more aware of recent research indicating that worst-case climate outcomes are becoming less likely. But we only found weak evidence for this hypothesis.

    In some ways this is a good sign, as it suggests that researchers are not working in isolated silos, each holding their own beliefs.

    Mixed perceptions

    A unique feature of the study is that we also asked IPCC authors what they thought others in the survey would answer in response to the same questions. We were interested to know the extent to which experts in this field believed that other experts shared similar beliefs to their own. Perceptions of peer beliefs are important because they can strongly influence a person’s own beliefs and behaviour.

    Participants in our study believed very strongly that their peers’ views on expected future warming were in line with their own beliefs. Even those who expected very high or very low amounts of future warming incorrectly believed that their peers would have similar estimates.

    This is not particularly surprising. In many domains, people tend to estimate the beliefs of their peers by examining their own beliefs, and then adjusting up or down, but often insufficiently. Researchers call this a false-consensus effect and we found that this effect was very prominent in our results.

    Because IPCC authors are trusted public figures who are often asked to share their thoughts with decision-makers and the media, this finding could be problematic if an author confidently believes that their expectations are also widely shared by their peers.

    Interdisciplinary benefits

    We see our study as an opportunity for experts to better understand the range of beliefs held by their own community, so they can communicate with more nuance and awareness as to whether their personal beliefs are part of a larger consensus or not.



    Read more:
    Eco-anxiety Q&A: how the IPCC’s vice-chair keeps her head cool on a warming planet

    Climate experts are not oracles. And even though a “wisdom of the crowd” average is often more accurate than a single expert, forecasting decades into the future is extremely difficult.

    The balance of evidence from this study reaffirms a message that climate scientists have been repeating for a long time: current efforts to tackle climate change are insufficient and more progress is needed quickly.

    While working on this project Seth Wynes received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    H. Damon Matthews receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

    – ref. New survey of IPCC authors reveals doubt, and hope, that world will achieve climate targets – https://theconversation.com/new-survey-of-ipcc-authors-reveals-doubt-and-hope-that-world-will-achieve-climate-targets-239177

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Philadelphia Emphasizes Strong Passwords for Cybersecurity Awareness Month

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the FBI Philadelphia Field Office reminds the public of the importance of using strong passwords or passphrases to protect their systems and accounts.

    These days, with how our lives are intertwined in the cyberspace, from staying connected to family and friends, to working and banking, strong online security has never been more critical.

    We use passwords for everything from protecting our devices to accounts.

    Many use simple passwords from “Password” or “1234” in an attempt to make them easier to remember. Simple passwords, even those that might include special characters, are easier to crack.

    Utilizing strong passwords and passphrases is vital in protecting against data breaches. A personal data breach occurs when personal data is leaked or spilled from a secure location to an untrusted environment. It can also happen when someone’s sensitive, protected, or confidential data is copied, transmitted, viewed, stolen, or used by an unauthorized person.

    In 2023, Pennsylvania residents reported over 1,900 complaints of personal data breaches to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), totaling about $44.8 million in reported losses.

    In 2023, New Jersey residents reported over 1,300 complaints of personal data breaches to the IC3, totaling about $18 million in reported losses.

    Below are some password best practices:

    • Use strong and complex passwords or passphrases instead of simple passwords
    • Strong passwords should be long, random, unique

    Example password: aiH!ple$dAli&hp Example passphrase: City Statue Photograph Boxer Pretzel

    • Do NOT reuse passwords across multiple accounts
    • Be careful of using personally identifiable information when building a password to include birthdays, pet names, etc.
    • Use a password manager
    • Set up multi-factor authentication for your accounts

    For additional information on how you can protect yourself, your device, and your information, visit On the Internet: Be Cautious When Connected FBI

    For more strong password tips, visit: Use Strong Passwords | CISA

    To report a personal data breach or other Internet-enabled crime to the FBI, visit ic3.gov.

    FBI Philadelphia can be reached at (215) 418-4000.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison for Attempting to Purchase Sex with Minor

    Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

    Defendant agreed to pay undercover law enforcement officer $100 to have sex with minor

    BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for attempting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl.

    Dimitri Shawn McKenzie, 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 126 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In June 2024, McKenzie was convicted following a three-day jury trial of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child.

    “The sad reality is that children are being sold for sex in our communities because of people like Dimitri McKenzie. These men fuel that commercial sex industry and drive demand.  We are actively prosecuting the men and women who traffic adults and kids for profit, but in order to make a real dent in this pernicious conduct, we also have to go after demand – that is the people who are trolling the internet purchasing sex with little kids. I hope that every coward behind a keyboard who is thinking about engaging in the rape of the child under the auspices of a commercial transaction thinks twice – you may very well be talking to an undercover federal agent. Don’t do it. If you do, you are looking at a minimum of ten years behind bars,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

    “It is deeply disturbing to know that people pay to sexually abuse children. McKenzie was ready and willing to pay to sexually assault a child. Thankfully, through our undercover operation, he instead found an HSI special agent and not a real child,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “This sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime and our commitment to protecting children from exploitation and abuse.”

    In November 2022, McKenzie responded to an online post purportedly advertising two minor girls – ages 12 and 14 years old – available to perform sex acts in exchange for money in the Boston area. The post was a fictitious advertisement by undercover law enforcement. In subsequent text communications with undercover law enforcement, McKenzie agreed to pay $100 to have sex with the fictitious 14-year-old at a hotel. Upon arriving at the hotel, McKenzie met with undercover law enforcement posing as the purported seller in the hotel parking lot, provided cash in exchange for 20 minutes with the fictitious minor and accepted a hotel room key. McKenzie was immediately taken into custody.

    If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lexington, Waltham, Barnstable, Quincy and Cambridge Police Departments as well as the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pine Grove — Lunenburg RCMP investigating robbery involving man who was hitchhiking

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Lunenburg District RCMP is seeking information from the public about a robbery near Pine Grove.

    On October 7, at approximately 3:30 a.m., Lunenburg District RCMP responded to a report of a robbery from a man who was hitchhiking on Pinegrove Rd. Investigators learned that a white Chevrolet Malibu stopped near the man and the male driver approached him. The driver took the man’s bag, placed it in the trunk, and fled in the car.

    The last known direction of travel for the Malibu was northwest on Hwy. 10 toward New Germany.

    The man was treated for non-life-threatening injuries related to this incident.

    The male driver was described as 5’11” with a smaller build, and had short, dark messy hair and a mustache. He was wearing sneakers, jeans, and a green and black plaid short-sleeved shirt. He was also said to have a South Shore accent.

    Anyone who witnessed this incident or has information that may identify the driver is asked to contact Lunenburg District RCMP at 902-634-8674. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at http://www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Registered Sex Offender Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging He Targets & Exploits Local High School Students

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (c)

    COLUMBUS, Ohio – Law enforcement agents arrested a Columbus man this morning on federal charges alleging he sexually exploited high school girls and coerced them into engaging in commercial sex acts.

    Terrance P. Cummings, 29, has a criminal history of unlawful sexual conduct with minors dating back to 2016. In this case, Cummings’s federal child exploitation charge carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years and up to 50 years in prison and the coercion and enticement charge pending against him is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.

    The FBI asks anyone with information related to the criminal allegations against Cummings to text 740-428-0739.

    According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, in July 2024, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force received information about a 16-year-old victim allegedly receiving gifts and illicit substances from Cummings in exchange for sex acts.

    The court documents allege Cummings had sex with numerous minor victims in exchange for drugs in addition to requesting nude images of them. On some occasions, Cummings would allegedly provide the drug to the minor victims before engaging in sex acts with them. It is alleged that Cummings sold or provided fentanyl, marijuana, Xanax, cocaine, acid and ecstasy. 

    While executing a search warrant at Cummings’s apartment in August, agents discovered a variety of narcotics, along with two iPhones submerged in the water tank on the back of the bathroom toilet, which Cummings had allegedly attempted to destroy after learning about the warrant.

    Cummings’s electronics and other accounts contained more than 18,000 sexual images and videos including child pornography. The investigation revealed that Cummings requested sexually explicit content in exchange for money, gifts and drugs.

    Cummings is charged with sexually exploiting a minor, distributing, receiving or possessing child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, and obstruction of justice. His case was unsealed today, and he appeared in federal court at 1:15pm.

    Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer Rausch are representing the United States in this case.

    The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force was formed under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and includes resources from the Columbus Division of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, The Ohio State University Police Department, Marysville Division of Police, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office.

    A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash, SH32, Whakamaru Road

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    One person has died following a serious crash on State Highway 32 this morning.

    Emergency services were called to the two-vehicle crash on Whakamaru Road at around 6.30am.

    Sadly, the person died at the scene.

    One other person received moderate injuries and was transported to hospital.

    The road has since reopened.

    Police would like to thank motorists for their cooperation and patience during the road closures as it is important for us to conduct a scene examination and gather all the information we can.

    While enquiries into the crash are ongoing, Police are seeking the public’s help and want to hear from witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage that may have captured the crash, or the events prior to the crash.

    If you have information that may assist Police in our enquiries, please contact us online at 105.online.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report” or 105.

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

    Please use reference number P060245240.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrates 150 years serving Mid-South Canterbury

    Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

    Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade is celebrating one-and-a-half centuries of serving its community at an event taking place at the fire station next month.
    Chief Fire Officer, Murray Blogg, says, “this major anniversary gives us a chance as a community to come together and celebrate our past and present volunteers, the local businesses who continue to support their employees to turn out and the families of our crew, who sacrifice precious family time for the benefit of our community.
    “A lot has changed in 150 years for our community, but we have always remained committed to serving Temuka and wider Mid-South Canterbury,” he says.
    Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade’s inaugural meeting was held in the lounge of the Crown Hotel on 24 November 1874, triggered by a series of serious fires and subsequent public meetings calling for a fire brigade.
    Previously the brigade mostly responded to structure fires and scrub fires, but more dairy farming in the area has reduced the number of vegetation fires.
    The town has also grown a lot, with the expansion of Fonterra’s site in Clandeboye bringing new families, more properties and thriving businesses.
    Temuka volunteers now mainly respond to medical emergencies, car crashes, search and rescues and natural disasters.
    They attend an average of 180-200 calls per year, and regularly support crews from neighbouring brigades, as well as being supported by them too.
    In the last 25 years alone, the brigade has extricated 120 people, rescued 130 people and assisted 1307 people.
    Some notable memories for the brigade over the last 25 years include the 2006 snowfall, the heaviest South Canterbury had experienced for decades, with Temuka receiving 25cm of snow. The brigade was completely isolated for a period of time with little communication and power and the crew living on station. The brigade supported the community with welfare calls, a building collapse and a house fire.
    The brigade also responded to the Port Hills fire in 2017 and the Dong Won ship fire in Timaru in 2018
    Temuka Volunteer Fire Brigade has 25 operational members, and is always open to more, especially during daytime hours.
    “While we are celebrating the brigade and our community on 26 October, we are always on the look-out for new volunteers, especially for turnout during the day,” Murray Blogg says.
    “Whether you’re interested in joining us or not, come on down and help us mark this monumental achievement.”
    The open day on 26 October will include:
    • Kitchen fire display
    • Motor vehicle accident display
    • Live fire display
    • Static display of emergency vehicles
    • Colouring in competition
    • Fire safety
    • Food and drink stalls
    WHAT: 150 years of firefighting in Temuka
    WHEN: Saturday 26 October 2024, 9.30am-2pm
    WHERE: Temuka Fire Station, corner of Wood Street and Hally Terrace
    ENTRY: FREE

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kamlager-Dove Delivers $1.6M to Local Organizations Supporting Housing, Community Safety, and Foster Youth During Youth Justice Action Month

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager California (37th District)

    LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman presented two checks totaling $1.6 million to Amity Foundation and Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Los Angeles (CASA/LA), two organizations in the district working to support youth and adults in the child welfare and justice systems. These organizations are two of fifteen that Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove secured a total of $12.4 million for through Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation. Photos and videos from the event are here.

    Amity Foundation received $1,000,000 for the Amistad de Los Angeles residential re-entry facility, a housing project that supports currently incarcerated men on the path to re-entry and recovery. This funding allows for the renovation of the existing facility to increase the capacity to serve a greater number of individuals (26 new beds) and significantly improve the standard of housing for the current 184 residents.
     
    CASA/LA received $640,000 for the Transition Age Youth Program, which serves youth 12-17 and non-minor dependents 18-21 in the child welfare system at risk of entry or re-entry into the justice system. CASA volunteers provide crucial one-on-one support and court advocacy to ensure the youth’s best interests are represented in legal proceedings. In addition to their legal advocacy, CASA volunteers help youth navigate essential services such as education, housing, job training, and employment opportunities, empowering them to achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
     
    “Supporting those most at-risk in our community, including foster youth and formerly incarcerated individuals, requires comprehensive wraparound services to get our neighbors through critical turning points in their lives,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Through the continuum of care they provide, Amity and CASA/LA unlock access to crucial resources, including housing, jobs programs, and courtroom advocacy for youth and adults in the child welfare and justice systems, setting them on a strong path toward stability and success. I was proud to secure this funding because I know expanding these organizations’ services will uplift our community members as they transition into a new phase of life and, ultimately, keep our communities safe.”
     
    “The Biden-Harris Administration is delivering avenues of opportunity for our young people. I would like to thank Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove for her leadership,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. “These resources will help stabilize youth who are homeless, and there’s no better investment.”
     
    “Resources like this are vital to the transformation of the lives of our students and well-being of our entire community,” said Doug Bond, CEO of Amity Foundation. “Having safe environments creates sanctuaries for our students to heal, and our Amistad de Los Angeles campus will continue to be a space for learning and growth in our community with the continued support and leadership of Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove.”
     
    “We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove for her generous support and commitment to the young people we serve. This grant will significantly enhance our ability to provide critical court advocacy and comprehensive support services to youth in foster care, especially Transition Age Youth and those who have contact with the juvenile justice system,” said Dr. Charity Chandler-Cole, CEO of CASA of Los Angeles. “By focusing on individualized one-on-one support, education, and trauma-informed care, we can help break the cycle of re-entry into the justice system. CASA advocacy will help young people make positive life choices, which in turn strengthens families and communities, and enhances public safety.Together, we are fostering long-term change that builds a stronger, more equitable future for our children in care.” 
     
    Following the press conference, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove and representatives from Amity Foundation and CASA of Los Angeles participated in a roundtable discussion focused on understanding current gaps in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other federal partners.
     
    ABOUT AMITY FOUNDATION
    Founded in 1981 in Tucson, AZ, Amity Foundation is a California 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves individuals, families, and children. Amity began as a therapeutic community and has evolved into a teaching community. Our mission is to foster personal growth, emotional literacy and social responsibility for our students, as well as improve their physical health through nutrition and wellness. These create the fertile ground for students’ success in gaining employment, housing, furthering education, and reuniting families.
     
    ABOUT CASA OF LOS ANGELES
    CASA of Los Angeles organizes the community to take action and advocate for children and families in LA County’s overburdened child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Through an intentional, restorative, and culturally relevant lens, CASA/LA trains committed, consistent, and caring adults who provide equitable access to resources and life-affirming connections.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Arkansas Sheriff’s Deputies Sentenced for Federal Civil Rights Violations for Violently Assaulting Subdued Man

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Two former Crawford County, Arkansas, sheriff’s deputies were sentenced for using unlawful force on a man they arrested. Levi White, 34, was sentenced yesterday to 63 months in prison, and Zackary King, 28, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison.

    Each defendant pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law for a retaliatory assault on R.W., a 26-year-old man. On Aug. 21, 2022, White, King and a third officer approached R.W. in a gas station parking lot during their investigation into a person threatening a store attendant. R.W. lunged at White and tackled him, then all three officers quickly subdued R.W. and pinned him to the ground. After R.W. was pinned to the ground and no longer fighting the officers, White punched R.W. at least nine times in the head, then lifted R.W.’s head and slammed it into the pavement. King kicked R.W. in the back and struck R.W. once in the midsection with his fist. Following the announcement of a federal investigation into the assault, White obstructed the investigation by wiping all data from his county-issued cell phone and selectively deleting text messages about the incident from his personal phone. White asked King if King was also going to wipe his cell phone, but King declined to do so.

    “Punching a man in the head, slamming their head repeatedly on the concrete pavement, kicking them in the back and striking them in the midsection — this kind of gratuitous and unjustified violence at the hands of law enforcement runs contrary to the oath that officers take in our country to protect and serve,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendants swore an oath to uphold the law, then violated that oath and abused their power as law enforcement officers by assaulting a person in their custody. At the time of the assaults, three officers had already subdued the victim, and further force was unnecessary and unlawful. White added fuel to the fire by taking steps to obstruct the investigation into the violent assault. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute officers who abuse their authority and violate the rights of people in their custody.”

    “Levi White and Zackary King’s sentencings prove that no law enforcement officer is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder of the FBI Little Rock Field Office. “FBI Little Rock, alongside our trusted partners at Arkansas State Police, will continue to investigate potential abuses of power and civil rights violations throughout our state. We encourage anyone who has information about abusive or corrupt law enforcement to contact the FBI’s ArkTrust Task Force immediately.”

    The FBI Little Rock Field Office and Arkansas State Police investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin Roberts and Devon Still for the Western District of Arkansas and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer and Trial Attorneys Lia Rettammel and Anna Gotfryd of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Watson Coleman Meets with Local Midwives and Doulas

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman

    October 10, 2024

    Ewing, NJ (Thursday, October 10, 2024) – Today, as part of National Midwifery Week, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) sat down with midwives, doulas, healthcare professionals, and their patients at the Children’s Home Society of New Jersey in Trenton. At the listening session, they discussed how healthcare is evolving, centering on the diverse needs of mothers, from education to advocacy to postnatal recovery, as well as the importance of culturally competent care. 

    “Midwives and doulas represent an important part of the broader team that helps mothers through the incredible journey that is bringing a child into the world,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “Doulas and midwives help mothers every step of the way, from education to attending prenatal visits and serving as an advocate for the mother, helping the mother give birth, and assisting new mothers in those crucial first months of life. More and more families are turning to midwives and doulas for the special care they provide. I remain committed to ensuring well-trained, culturally competent doulas and midwives are available to the mothers who need them.”

    “Midwives in New Jersey applaud Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s resolution recognizing the value of midwifery care with its proven positive outcomes,” said Dr. Julie Blumenfeld, Certified Nurse Midwife for Capital Health Prenatal Clinic in Trenton & President of NJ Affiliate of American College of Nurse Midwives. “Increasing access to midwifery care will contribute to improved maternal health outcomes and ensure equity for birthing people and their families in New Jersey and across the nation.”

    “We proudly and strongly support United States Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman’s resolution honoring the life-saving work of certified nurse midwives,” said Donna C. Pressma, CHSofNJ President & CEO. “Every day, we witness certified nurse midwives and doulas’ caring, trained services producing for diverse pregnant and postpartum mothers more healthy full-term and full-weight births.”

    “Midwives are licensed clinicians who provide high-quality care that reduces maternal mortality rates. Pairing midwifery care with the support of a doula can further improve health outcomes for birthing people and their families,” said Armonie Pierre-Jacques, NJ Health Care Quality Institute (NJHCQI).  

    “For over 20 years, CHSofNJ has been committed to providing a continuum of services that ensure birthing people feel supported, respected, and treated with dignity,” said Socorro Garcia, CHSofNJ Mercer County Program Administrator, Family and Maternal Child Health Services. “Today’s listening session with Congresswoman Watson Coleman reinforces our shared dedication to be a voice for Central NJ families. Thank you, Congresswoman, for listening and for your continuous support.”

    “Working together with midwives to support pregnant women makes a difference for doulas; it’s beautiful, because everyone understands each other’s role in supporting the mother, and at the same time, we work as a team for the well-being of both the mother and the baby,” said Silvia Corado, CHSofNJ Program Administrator of Community Based Doula Programs.

    Children’s Home Society was able to train and hire an additional 26 doulas in part thanks to Community Project Funding directed by Congresswoman Watson Coleman in 2023.

    This week, Congresswoman Watson Coleman and Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) introduced a resolution recognizing National Midwifery Week as October 6th through October 12th.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road rebuilds and resurfacing the focus of maintenance season in Manawatū-Whanganui

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    People travelling throughout Manawatū-Whanganui over the next few months can expect to see a lot of activity rebuilding and resealing the region’s state highways.

    The 2024/25 summer maintenance season for the Manawatū-Whanganui region is now underway, with crews starting road rebuilds on State Highway 1 in Levin and State Highway 2 near Dannevirke.

    During the course of the maintenance season, which typically runs between October to March when the weather is warmer and drier, it’s anticipated that 17 lane kilometres* of state highway in the region will be rebuilt.

    Over the summer months, about 74 lane kilometres are expected to be renewed in total (rebuilt, resealed and resurfaced) throughout the region, which is a bumper increase from the previous 2023/24 season.

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani says the focus this season is on more road rebuilding.

    “We’re working to improve the overall network condition through more intensive treatments, increasing pavement quality.”

    These works are underway:

    • State Highway 1, Levin rebuild: Work has begun and is expected to run for about 12 weeks, with crews working mostly at night. Stop/go will be in place, with some drainage improvement works also expected during the day.
    • State Highway 2, rebuild: Work has begun on a section of SH2 at Matamau, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go will be in place each day for about 4 weeks.
    • State Highway 2, resurfacing: Night-time asphalting works are underway on SH2 near the Mangatera Stream Bridge, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go will be in place at night, with works expected to be complete on Saturday 12 October.

    These works are coming up:

    • State Highway 3, resurfacing: From 16 – 18 October, resurfacing will take place on SH3 Carlton Ave, Whanganui, with a single-lane closure and southbound detour in place. Light vehicles will detour via Purnell St, Guyton St, Heads Rd and back to SH3. Heavy vehicles to detour Montgomery Rd, Mosston Rd, Heads Rd and back to SH3.
    • State Highway 2, resurfacing: From 29 October – 1 November, day-time resurfacing work will take place on SH2 Stanley St in Dannevirke. A single-lane closure and northbound detour will be in place via Rawhiti St, Queen St, Allan St, Cole St and back to SH2.
    • State Highway 2, rebuild: From 31 October – 28 November, road rebuild work will take place on SH2 in Papatawa, north of Ball Road, between Woodville and Dannevirke. Day-time stop/go will be in place.

    Other areas with planned works:

    • Further road rebuilds are expected on SH1 near Bulls, SH1 near Rata, SH1 north of Mangaweka, SH54 near Vinegar Hill, SH54 Kimbolton Road and SH56 Opiki.
    • Some significant asphalt resurfacing sites planned this season include the SH1/3 intersection in Bulls, SH2 Pahiatua CBD, SH2 Woodville CBD, SH2 Eketāhuna CBD and SH2 near Oringi Rail Bridge.
    • A range of reseals are planned across state highways throughout the region over the summer months, especially on SH2 between Norsewood and Eketāhuna.

    Please keep up to date with high impact works via Journey Planner(external link).

    The season’s work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

    Ms Pani says planned rebuilds help improve the overall condition of our state highway network as they lead to stronger roads that need fewer repairs and less maintenance.

    “We’re drivers too and we know there will be long term benefits, but the short-term disruption can be frustrating. We are working hard to minimise the impact of works on road users, but some level of disruption is unavoidable. We appreciate the patience of all road users throughout Manawatū-Whanganui as we complete this necessary maintenance work on the region’s roads.

    “It’s also important that drivers plan their trips accordingly, follow the temporary traffic management in place, adhere to all speed restrictions in place and respect our crews while travelling through the roadworks site.

    “Our road workers will do their best to complete their work safely and efficiently and keep you moving this summer. Temporary traffic management is there to make everyone’s journey safer. Please be respectful to our crews and follow their advice and instructions,” says Ms Pani.

    Further information

    • More information on works will be shared with stakeholders once confirmed. Locations may be subject to change ahead of work starting on site.
    • Please note, the lists above are not complete, and NZTA will continue to communicate with local communities as soon as possible before work begins at various sites.
    • For more information about the 2024/2025 road maintenance season, please visit
      NZTA’s Manawatū-Whanganui maintenance and operations webpage

    *Lane kilometres are the total length of lanes to be resealed or rehabilitated. For example, resealing both lanes of a 10 kilometre stretch of two-lane highway results in 20 lane kilometres.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland overnight motorway closures 13 – 18 October 2024

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises of the following closures for motorway improvements. Work delayed by bad weather will be completed at the next available date, prior to Friday, 18 October 2024.

    Please note this traffic bulletin is updated every Friday.

    Daily updated closure information(external link)

    Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am. Traffic management may be in place before the advertised closure times for the mainline.

     NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

    • Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 13 & 15 October
      • Orewa southbound on-ramp, 13 & 15 October
      • Millwater southbound on-ramp, 13 & 15 October
    • Southbound lanes between Orewa off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 14 October
      • Orewa southbound on-ramp, 14 October
      • Millwater southbound on-ramp, 14 October
      • Silverdale southbound on-ramp, 14 October
    • Northbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Orewa on-ramp, 13-15 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Silverdale northbound on-ramp, 13-15 October
      • Oteha Valley Road northbound on-ramp, 13-15 October
    • Southbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Oteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Greville Road southbound on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • SH1 southbound to SH18 westbound link, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Northbound lanes between Constellation Drive off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 16 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Greville Road northbound on-ramp, 16 October
      • Constellation Drive northbound on-ramp, 16 October
    • Northbound lanes between Northcote Road off-ramp and Constellation Drive on-ramp, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Tristram Avenue northbound on-ramp, 17 October
      • Northcote Road northbound on-ramp, 17 October
    • Onewa Road southbound off-ramp, 13 October
    • Onewa Road southbound on-ramp, 13 October
    • Onewa Road northbound on-ramp, 13 October

    CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)

    • Eastbound lanes between Wellesley Street East (SH1) off-ramp and Alten Road, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Eastbound lanes between Wellesley Street East (SH16) off-ramp and Alten Road, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Grafton Road eastbound on-ramp, 17 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)

    SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

    • Southbound lanes between Takanini off-ramp and Drury/SH22 on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
      • Takanini southbound on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
      • Papakura (Diamond) southbound on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
      • Papakura (Loop) southbound on-ramp, 13-17 October (approx. 9:30pm to 5:30am)
    • Northbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 15-16 October
      • Papakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 15-16 October
      • Papakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 15-16 October
    • Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Takanini on-ramp, 17 October
      • Papakura (Diamond) northbound on-ramp, 17 October
      • Papakura (Loop) northbound on-ramp, 17 October
      • Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 17 October
    • Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 13 October
      • Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 13-13 October
    • Bombay southbound off-ramp, 13-17 October
    • Bombay northbound off-ramp, 13-17 October
    • Pokeno southbound off-ramp, 16-17 October
    • Pokeno southbound on-ramp, 16-17 October
    • Pioneer Road southbound off-ramp, 16-17 October
    • Southbound lanes between Hampton Downs off-ramp and Te Kauwhata on-ramp, 17 October
      • Hampton Downs southbound on-ramp, 17 October

    NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)

    • Southbound lanes between Waimauku Roundabout and Foster Road, 13-14 October (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Northbound lanes between Foster Road and Waimauku Roundabout, 13-14 October (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
    • Lincoln Road northbound on-ramp, 15-16 October
    • SH16 eastbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 14 October
      • Great North Road eastbound off ramp (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 14 October
    • SH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 14 October

    UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)

    • Eastbound lanes between Albany Highway off-ramp and Paul Matthews Road, 16 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • SH18 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 16 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Albany Highway westbound on-ramp, 16 October
    • Westbound lanes between Paul Matthews Road and Albany Highway on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
      • Paul Matthews Road westbound on-ramp, 13 October (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)

    SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)

    • Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 links (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 15-16 October
      • Maioro Street northbound on-ramp (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 15-16 October
    • Dominion Road northbound off-ramp, 14-17 October

    GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)

    • None planned

    PUHINUI ROAD (SH20B)

    • None planned

    STATE HIGHWAY 22 (SH22)

    • None planned

    STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)

    • None planned   

    Please follow the signposted detours. NZ Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

    Current overnight closure information(external link)

    Auckland roads and public transport(external link)

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: R v. Kloubakov: Supreme Court of Canada ignores sex workers in case on sex work

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Vincent Wong, Assistant Professor of Law, University of Windsor

    The Supreme Court of Canada will soon hear a case, R v. Kloubakov, in which two men charged with financially benefiting from sex work are claiming the charges violate their Charter rights.

    The accused worked as drivers for sex workers in Calgary. A court in Alberta found them guilty of benefiting financially from prostitution and being parties to procuring women into the sex trade. They argue that Canada’s sex work laws criminalize people who work with sex workers in non-exploitative situations, and are therefore unconstitutional.

    While the appellants in this case are not sex workers themselves, the outcome greatly impacts sex workers and their rights because it could, among other things, undermine their security and ability to put in place safety measures. Migrants arrested under these laws also face the prospect of loss of status, detention and deportation.

    Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has chosen to exclude a national coalition of 23 sex worker organizations, the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (CASWLR), and two organizations that work with migrant sex workers (the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers.

    The court has concluded their views are irrelevant to the case at hand. This exclusion rehearses Canada’s longer history of excluding those connected with sex work based on race, gender and immigration status.

    Canada’s sex work law

    This case centres on the procurement and material benefits provisions in Canada’s criminal code. They are part of the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA), which was passed in 2014 after the Supreme Court struck down previous provisions targeting sex work.

    PCEPA criminalizes “everyone who procures a person to offer or provide sexual services” and anyone “who receives a financial or other material benefit” from sex work, with certain exceptions.

    The law assumes that sex workers are victims and ignores their agency and labour. While being a sex worker is not directly made an offence, the law criminalizes the purchase of sexual services and thus renders illegal all commercial transactions for sex. Activists have argued that doing so has driven sex work further underground. Sex workers, and those wishing to purchase sexual services, must avoid police for fear of detection, apprehension and in the case of migrant women, deportation.

    Going underground means sex workers are at amplified risk of exploitation and physical harm because they have reduced bargaining power and cannot use safety measures, such as hiring third parties or implementing certain vetting and safety protocols in the spaces they would like to use, for fear of attracting the attention of police.

    CASWLR argues that the law’s criminalization of sex workers and third parties replicates and even exacerbates the harms of the former laws that the Court found violated sex workers’ Charter rights to security of the person.

    As a sex worker-led umbrella organization, CASWLR members have lived expertise and intimate knowledge of how these laws still harm sex workers in ways that can crucially inform the question of whether the laws are constitutional.

    Migrant sex workers

    Aside from direct criminalization, migrant sex workers may face additional and distinct consequences under immigration laws if they are charged, convicted or merely under criminal investigation. Migrant sex workers could lose their status in Canada, be detained and deported and be barred from re-entering the country. Further, it is not just sex workers themselves who are affected. Migrant third parties and their family members’ immigration status and future could be imperilled as well.

    These potential consequences may drive migrant sex workers to do their work in unsafe conditions to avoid detection by police and immigration enforcement. Sex workers are effectively forced into these precarious conditions because of the existing laws.

    In our view, loss of immigration status and deportation for engaging in non-exploitative, consensual activity are consequences of the current law that are not justified under the Charter because of the risks of violence and other harms that arise from avoiding detection.

    The Court, however, has decided it will not be considering this aspect at all and has excluded the only two organizations that work with migrant sex workers. The Court did grant intervener status to some organizations who will do a reasonable job in detailing some of the harms of the laws. However, none are sex worker-led and none represent migrant sex workers who may experience additional harms.

    The Supreme Court denied intervener status to these organizations because they perceived their interventions as providing new information that would unduly expand the case. Denying standing to these organizations, however, has the ultimate effect of not hearing from those directly impacted by the laws being examined.

    Courts are meant to consider the wider implications of how laws are interpreted, implemented and the potential ways they affect others. This is particularly important in constitutional challenges where it is both foreseeable and expected that legal decisions will have widely ranging effects on multiple groups.

    History of migrant exclusion

    Unfortunately, this exclusion is tied to the history of discrimination and stigmatization of Asian migrant sex workers, ostensibly for their own protection. Though many Canadians may have heard of Canada’s law that restricted Chinese immigration, including the infamous Head Tax, many may not know that it explicitly barred “any Chinese woman who is known to be a prostitute.”

    This law took influence from the very first immigration ban in the United States, the 1875 Page Act. This law barred the immigration of women from “any Oriental country” if they were “imported for the purposes of prostitution.” The exclusion and policing of Asian sex workers was justified by ideas of carceral humanitarianism, which proposes that exclusion and policing are a necessary way of protecting people from being trafficked.

    These so-called safety measures did not achieve either goal — in the past or present. Migrant sex workers who are directly targeted and harmed by the law were never directly asked what they desired or whether they needed saving.

    We see these long-standing patterns at work again today with the Supreme Court’s exclusion of migrant sex workers (and other sex workers) in R v. Kloubakov. The court is demonstrating that it has clearly not learned from history.

    When courts deny those most impacted by the law a hearing, they do not take into account all of the considerations they should. Cases can take years to reach the Supreme Court. When courts do take up the task to review law, it should welcome those directly affected by it, particularly when there are groups that have been traditionally marginalized from political and legal power.

    For courts to be effective, they must hear from those who can best explain how their rights are violated and excluded from the discussion. Trust in our justice system and our laws are diminished when those directly harmed by it have no say and no recourse.

    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. R v. Kloubakov: Supreme Court of Canada ignores sex workers in case on sex work – https://theconversation.com/r-v-kloubakov-supreme-court-of-canada-ignores-sex-workers-in-case-on-sex-work-240417

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Stabbing incident – Parap

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have arrested a 19-year-old woman following a series of random attacks in Parap yesterday evening.

    At around 6:15pm, police received multiple reports of the woman pursuing individuals with scissors and attacking them.

    Three victims suffered injuries during the incident. A woman in her 60s was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital by St John Ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. A 70-year-old man and a 27-year-old man suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

    CCTV operators monitored the situation in real time, enabling police to quickly locate and arrest the offender nearby. She was taken into custody and transported to Palmerston Watch House, where she has since been charged with 3 counts of Aggravated assault and one count of Going armed in public. She was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court today. 

    Police are continuing their investigation and interviewing witnesses. Anyone who witnessed the incident, or was in the area, is encouraged to contact police at 131 444 or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Reed Leads Tour of Latino-Owned Small Businesses

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    CENTRAL FALLS, RI – In an effort to highlight the Ocean State’s vibrant Latino culture, restaurants, and small businesses, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today teamed up with the City of Central Falls and the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and lead a special walking tour along Broad Street in Central Falls.
    The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15 to October 15.  It is a time to appreciate and celebrate the colorful cultures, rich histories, and diversity of the nation’s Hispanic population whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
    The special walking tour: “Un recorrido por los negocios hispanos que impulsan y elevan a nuestras comunidades” (“A tour of hispanic businesses that fuel and uplift our communities”), featured several small businesses, both new and long-standing establishments, and amplified ventures that are helping power the local economy forward while also giving back to their neighbors.
    “The theme of this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month is about shaping the future.  As we saw during today’s walking tour, Mayor Rivera, the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Central Falls’ diverse small business community have embodied that theme through their actions, advocacy, and commitment to their neighbors,” said Senator Reed.  “I will continue to stand with Rhode Island’s vibrant and diverse Hispanic and Latino communities to ensure that the future of our state remains strong, prosperous, and welcoming to all who want to plant their roots here.”
    “Central Falls celebrates the rich cultural contributions of our Latino and Hispanic communities and is home to many Latino-owned small businesses that make our city vibrant,” said Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera.  “Thank you, Senator Reed, for your incredible partnership and support for Latino communities across Rhode Island, and to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for ensuring these businesses have the resources they need to succeed.”
    At the beginning of the tour, Senator Reed joined Mayor Rivera, Oscar Mejias, and members of the community for lunch at La Hacienda Restaurant, a family-owned restaurant dishing out authentic Salvadoran Mexican cuisine. The group then visited a host of local businesses that help the community celebrate together, eat together, and join together.
    The tour included stops at Krystal’s Flower Shop, a small business providing specialty floral arrangements and decorations for celebrations and ceremonies; Esperanza Convenience Store; Tony’s Shoe Service; Rossell’s Beauty Salon, a community institution that has been a fixture on Broad Street for nearly 30 years; and Elsy Nutrition, a family-owned small business promoting the importance of good nutrition.
    Hispanic or Latino residents now make up 18 percent of Rhode Island’s population, up from 12.4 percent in 2010, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau.  The Ocean State has long been home to thriving Colombian, Dominican, Guatemalan, Puerto Rican, and Mexican communities among others, each with its own unique traditions and identities within the Hispanic community that all contribute to Rhode Island’s shared culture and heritage.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed Teams Up with AARP & RI State Police for Elder Fraud Prevention Summit

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed
    EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – Older adults are a growing population in Rhode Island, and a growing target for criminals seeking to scam them out of their hard-earned savings.
    In an effort to protect older Americans from financial exploitation and the proliferation of evolving scams, U.S. Senator Jack Reed today teamed up with AARP Rhode Island and the Rhode Island State Police’s Financial Crimes Unit for an Elder Fraud Prevention Summit at the East Providence Senior Center.  The presentation and Q&A session focused on a range of fraud and scams that criminals are using to target older adults and included tips for detection, prevention, and advice on how to report and recover if you or a loved one is victimized.
    According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), elder fraud complaints rose by 14 percent in 2023, and losses grew by 11 percent. The report found that elder fraud resulted in losses of over $3.4 billion in 2023, including $7.4 million lost by Rhode Islanders over age sixty due to scams.
    Senator Reed says public education and outreach is needed to lower that number, which is likely underreported because many victims are too embarrassed to notify the authorities or don’t know where to turn.  He credited AARP, the Rhode Island State Police, and local TV stations and the news media for helping to raise awareness and enable older Americans protect themselves, recognize telltale signs of scams, reduce victimization, and combat the financial exploitation.
    “Two of the most important things people can do to protect themselves against fraud is to stay informed and have open lines of communication with trusted sources.  And if you do get scammed, report it to the authorities right away so they can help you.  Criminals targeting older Americans try to scare victims and create a false sense of urgency.  Know the signs, stay informed, and never be embarrassed if you ever get caught up in a scam.  The criminals are master manipulators and with Artificial Intelligence and new technology, anyone can get scammed.  Brilliant people of all ages and from all walks of life have been victimized.  The one thing most victims have in common is: They didn’t tell anyone else what was happening.  Don’t let it happen to you.  Be forewarned and help stop these crimes by reporting them.  Local, state, and federal law enforcement are working together to go after the bad guys and bring them to justice,” said Senator Reed.
    To help older Rhode Islanders stay informed about evolving scams and equip them with tools to stop the latest fraud techniques, AARP offers a free Fraud Watch Network’s Watchdog Alert, a twice monthly notification that lets users know about the latest trending scams and how to spot and avoid them. It’s also easy to share with friends and family.
    AARP Rhode Island’s State Director Catherine Taylor stated: “There’s a false narrative that older people are gullible or forgetful. That’s not true. If you are the victim of a scam, it’s not your fault. The fact is many of these scams are being perpetrated by usually offshore criminals who are well organized, well resourced, and highly skilled. And they have a playbook with three common elements: make unexpected contact, yield high emotion, and create a sense of urgency. AARP Rhode Island has a host of resources, information and support that equip older Rhode Islanders to fight back against the crime of fraud.”
    Nationwide, the FBI reports that tech support scams were the most widely reported type of scam last year.  The top five varieties of scams include: personal data breaches, confidence and romance scams, non-payment or non-delivery scams, and investment scams. Investment scams were the costliest type of elder fraud.
    The Rhode Island State Police offers an Identity Theft, Fraud & Scams resource page with detailed tips on detecting and preventing a range of financial crimes. 
    “Romance scams, investment scams, pop-up scams on computers, and others are all things we’ve seen in Rhode Island. Although they may differ in tactics, the goal is the same: to take your money,” said Lieutenant Richard Ptaszek, head of Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit. “To help prevent scams, you must take your time, think about the request being made, trust your judgement and follow up with a trusted source.”
    If fraud occurs, please help the authorities track and prosecute it by reporting it to both the local police and using the Federal Trade Commission’s online reporting portal: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov  Last year, Rhode Islanders reported 11,906 fraud complaints to the FTC.
    To reach the Rhode Island State Police’s Financial Crimes Unit directly, call: (401) 764-5179.
    The U.S. Department of Justice also has a toll-free National Elder Fraud Hotline available to help at: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).  The hotline is staffed during business hours by caseworkers trained in elder abuse and offers translation services for non-English speakers.
    The presentation focused on combatting several types of schemes that the FBI says are among the most prevalent today, including:
    Tech support scam: Criminals pose as technology support representatives and offer to fix non-existent computer issues. The scammers gain remote access to victims’ devices and sensitive information.
    Grandparent scam: A type of confidence scam where criminals pose as a relative—usually a child or grandchild—claiming to be in immediate financial need.
    Government impersonation scam: Criminals pose as government employees and threaten to arrest or prosecute victims unless they agree to provide funds or other payments.
    Sweepstakes/charity/lottery scam: Criminals claim to work for legitimate charitable organizations to gain victims’ trust. Or they claim their targets have won a foreign lottery or sweepstake, which they can collect for a “fee.”
    Home repair scam: Criminals appear in person and charge homeowners in advance for home improvement services that they never provide.
    Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to capitalize on their elderly victims’ desire to find companions.
    TV/radio scam: Criminals target potential victims using illegitimate advertisements about legitimate services, such as reverse mortgages or credit repair.
    Family/caregiver scam: Relatives or acquaintances of the elderly victims take advantage of them or otherwise get their money.
    In many of these scams, the criminal impersonates someone else and tricks the victim over the phone or email, claiming there’s an issue with their bank account and they must make a crypto investment in order to resolve the problem. The scammer instructs the target to convert cash to cryptocurrency and upload it to an unsecured account that the scammer can access. 
    No legitimate entity will contact you over the phone and urge you to pay with crypto currency, gift cards, or precious metals.  Any time someone does this, hang up or cut off contact and report the incident.
    For more information, visit Senator Reed’s scam prevention page: https://www.reed.senate.gov/seniorscams

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Responds to Hurricane Milton in Florida as it Continues Coordinated Recovery Across Six States Affected by Hurricane Helene

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Responds to Hurricane Milton in Florida as it Continues Coordinated Recovery Across Six States Affected by Hurricane Helene

    FEMA Responds to Hurricane Milton in Florida as it Continues Coordinated Recovery Across Six States Affected by Hurricane Helene

    WASHINGTON – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell continues to lead the federal government’s coordinated recovery across six states affected by Hurricane Helene, while FEMA remains simultaneously focused on the immediate response to Hurricane Milton in Florida.

    The agency was assisting the state of Florida to prepare prior to Hurricane Milton’s landfall. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the ground in Florida with local officials assessing the impacts of the storm. Commodities, volunteer agencies, response assets and federal personnel are being coordinated through the FEMA Region 4 Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta and the National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. Both facilities are activated on 24-hour operations to support the state.

    Resources and personnel have also remained in the states affected by Hurricane Helene to provide immediate long-term support. As these comprehensive recovery efforts continue, more than $344 million in federal disaster assistance has gone into the hands of Helene disaster survivors. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas is in North Carolina today to meet with state and local leaders, and members of the FEMA workforce supporting response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. These engagements follow his visit to North and South Carolina last week with President Biden.

    President Joseph R. Biden has approved federal disaster assistance in six states affected by Helene. This opens up federal help for survivors in designated areas in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Survivors may apply for assistance in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or using the FEMA App.

    Survivors may receive upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay.

    These photos highlight response and recovery efforts across affected states impacted by Helene and the response to Milton.

    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56148″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/bc76a25a1cbb1cdf82f0b1c70612bb41.jpg?itok=95kdKLOD” alt=”Caption: Tallahassee, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Administrator is leading the federal response to Hurricane Milton at the Florida Division of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Tallahassee, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Administrator is leading the federal response to Hurricane Milton at the Florida Division of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center.
    TALLAHASSEE, Florida – FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell speaks with Florida’s emergency management team at the Florida Division of Emergency Management Emergency Operations Center.  (source: FEMA)
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56089″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/3ec38dff94d421b29e9b738c3e2fd7e4.jpg?itok=g-b1UW6a” alt=”Caption: Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division distribute food and water to residents in Asheville, N.C.,” class=”image-style-large”>
    Asheville, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division distribute food and water to residents in Asheville, N.C.,
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56153″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/62d2e63814faa422a6617faf9f64c4cb.jpg?itok=l9vCm5A0″ alt=”Caption:

    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2024) – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas visited the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 10, 2024) – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas visited the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56146″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/f303bf0f0d79b0a081336926e095b1fd.jpeg?itok=nLrjmb7g” alt=”Caption:

    Orlando, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Urban Search and Rescue is prepared and ready to respond to Hurricane Milton.

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Orlando, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2024) – FEMA Urban Search and Rescue is prepared and ready to respond to Hurricane Milton.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56143″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/bb201edc491b02876939951937d6a29a.jpg?itok=MrXKeK6K” alt=”Caption:

    Orlando, Fla – Power restoration trucks and other equipment are pre-staging ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall.

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Orlando, Fla – Power restoration trucks and other equipment are pre-staging ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56101″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/91804c58d1d2deaf450c6704c7a25190.jpg?itok=xkPZYW-3″ alt=”Caption:

    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Hooks visits the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center to provide support to those affected by Hurricane Helene.

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Hooks visits the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center to provide support to those affected by Hurricane Helene.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56099″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/687e96e97136b77ee9df8c0ebb725ba9.jpg?itok=FAx5yq2S” alt=”Caption: Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith visits FEMA Corps members supporting Hurricane Helene response and recovery.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Raleigh, N.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – AmeriCorps CEO Michael Smith visits FEMA Corps members supporting Hurricane Helene response and recovery.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56114″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/803bc2e74d88047e766de87fab89911c.jpg?itok=cizykDdV” alt=”Caption: Greenville, S.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks visits Greenville’s Emergency Operations Center to meet with the leadership to discuss the stabilization progress for the County. Deputy Hooks met with Greenville County Emergency Management’ Director Jessica Stumpf, Deputy Director Pierce Womack, Greenville City Fire Chief Brian Horton, Division Chief David Hindman, South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson, alongside FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, Brett Howard.” class=”image-style-large”>
    Greenville, S.C. (Oct. 8, 2024) – FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks visits Greenville’s Emergency Operations Center to meet with the leadership to discuss the stabilization progress for the County. Deputy Hooks met with Greenville County Emergency Management’ Director Jessica Stumpf, Deputy Director Pierce Womack, Greenville City Fire Chief Brian Horton, Division Chief David Hindman, South Carolina Emergency Management Division Director Kim Stenson, alongside FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, Brett Howard.
    View Original‘ data-align=”center” data-asset-link=”1″ data-entity-type=”emerald” data-image-style=”large” data-asset-type=”imageasset” data-asset-id=”56069″ src=”https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/externals/6dab3be35910de73fb3062ae41c6060e.jpg?itok=MCkazuYu” alt=”Caption:

    Newport, Tenn. (Oct. 7, 2024) – Volunteers open large distribution points for Hurricane Helene survivors to receive food, water, clothing, cleaning supplies, pet food, diapers and emotional support at Crossroads Community Church in Newport, Tenn.

    ” class=”image-style-large”>

    Newport, Tenn. (Oct. 7, 2024) – Volunteers open large distribution points for Hurricane Helene survivors to receive food, water, clothing, cleaning supplies, pet food, diapers and emotional support at Crossroads Community Church in Newport, Tenn. 

    FEMA’s Disaster Multimedia Toolkit page provides graphics, social media copy and sample text in multiple languages. In addition, FEMA has set up a rumor control web page to reduce confusion about its role in the Helene response. Visit Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response.

    amy.ashbridge

    MIL OSI USA News –