ABINGDON, Va. – Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee announced today that the Western District of Virginia collected $11,714,277 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2024. Of this amount, $3,267,062 was collected in criminal actions and $8,447,214 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Western District of Virginia worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $ 19,802,736 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $ 19,545,011 was collected in civil actions.
“As these numbers demonstrate, the United States Attorney’s Office will use every tool to ensure that those who violate federal law do not profit from their actions,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “My office is committed to seeking justice, both civilly and criminally, in order to protect the interests of the United States and its citizens throughout the Western District of Virginia.”
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Western District of Virginia, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $ 54,015,848 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Two men were sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for their roles in laundering over $6 million in elder fraud proceeds.
According to court documents, Fei Liang, 42, of Flushing, New York, and Ziguang Li, 36, of Las Vegas, Nevada, opened bank accounts for fictitious businesses. These bank accounts were used to launder the proceeds of fraud.
Liang’s and Li’s co-conspirators operated a nationwide “tech support” scam or other similar elder fraud scheme, in which they targeted unsuspecting victims who logged onto their computer to use one or more online services from various corporations. The conspirators falsely advised victims of purported criminal or technical issues with their accounts associated with these online services, and that to address these issues they were required to wire money to business accounts. The accounts to which the victims wired money were controlled by the conspirators.
Money from the scam was directed to the accounts opened by Liang and Li. The accounts were then used to wire the proceeds to other members of the conspiracy, domestically and internationally.
During a search of Li’s residence, law enforcement recovered a handwritten list of the fictitious businesses used to further the money laundering scheme, records associated with bank accounts that received victim-funded wires, and copies of documents bearing personal identifiable information (PII). Law enforcement also recovered Li’ s cellphones and computers, which contained victims’ PII, business documents, identification documents, Employer Identification Numbers, and bank account information for at least 25 different entities, including fictitious businesses that provided victim-funded transfers to Li.
Liang pled guilty on Sept. 6, 2024, and was sentenced on Dec. 13, 2024. Li, pled guilty on Nov. 1, 2024, and was sentenced today.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division; Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and and Special Agent in Charge Scott Moffit, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Cybercrimes Investigation Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Hood and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Simon Jr. prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-170.
Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) passed a bipartisan resolution to recognize January 2025 as National Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month.
“I have been working for years, both in the Senate and as Nevada’s Attorney General, to combat the crisis of human trafficking in Nevada and across the country,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Victims of human trafficking deserve freedom and justice, and I will always stand up for them and ensure their voices are heard.”
“We each have a role to play in protecting the most vulnerable among us, especially women and children, from becoming victims of trafficking,” said Senator Grassley. “As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I’m committed to making human trafficking prevention a priority in this Congress. I thank Senator Cortez Masto for joining me in this effort to raise awareness of the horrors of human trafficking.”
Senator Cortez Masto is an outspoken advocate for the survivors of human trafficking and sexual assault. Her federal legislation to help train law enforcement to identify and prevent child trafficking and combat human trafficking activity on social media was signed into law. She co-sponsored bipartisan legislation that would prevent the trafficking of children by providing grants for the training of students, parents, and school personnel to respond to the signs of human trafficking.
WASHINGTON – Brennan Holloman, 26, of Washington D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 51 months in prison for illegally possessing a loaded “ghost gun” despite being previously been convicted of a felony offense. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Holloman pleaded guilty September 25, 2024, to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. In addition to the 51-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Holloman to serve two years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on October 11, 2023, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Fifth District Crime Suppression team in a police cruiser were patrolling the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue Northeast in Washington, D.C. They observed a group standing at the top of the stairs in front of a building on the 1500 block of Maryland Avenue, Northeast. When the officers approached, they noticed a member of the group with a handgun in his pants. The officers recovered a loaded 9-millimeter black and grey Polymer80 privately made firearm. The Polymer80 was not marked with a serial number. It was loaded with one round in its chamber and seventeen rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition in its extended magazine.
On December 15, 2023, Holloman was arrested for his October 11, 2023, possession of the ghost gun firearm and ammunition. As law enforcement made the arrest, they discovered Holloman was in possession of a Bryco .38 caliber firearm loaded with one round in its chamber and three rounds of ammunition in its magazine.
Holloman previously had been convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, including a September 4, 2018, conviction in Superior Court. In that case, Holloman was sentenced to a term of 18 months in prison, with all but 9 months suspended. When Holloman possessed loaded firearms on October 11, 2023, and December 15, 2023, he knew that he previously had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term longer than one year.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fort Belvoir woman pled guilty yesterday to assault with a dangerous weapon; assault by striking, beating, and wounding; and cruelty to children.
According to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2024, China Ashley Charles, 38, was enraged at her 10-year-old child because his bedroom was messy. She struck him with a chair, dresser drawers, a hot iron, a charging wire, a hairbrush, and a large serving spoon. She attempted to strike his face with the iron, but he blocked it with his hands. When Charles hit the child with the charging wire, his finger was cut and began bleeding.
Charles tried to hide her crime by making the child sit in a cold bath and splashing cold water on his face.
The child dropped onto the roof from his second-floor bedroom and then jumped down from the roof and fled. He was recovered by police with substantial bruises, abrasions, a knot on the back of his head, and a cut and bleeding finger. The child was transported to the emergency room at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital by ambulance.
Law enforcement recovered numerous items from China’s residence, including the iron, chair, hairbrush, spoon, multiple dresser drawers, and a sweater and a shirt with “I’M ON PUNISHMENT” written on them in black marker. Several of these items appeared to have blood on them, and further examination confirmed that the child’s blood was located on the iron and at least one dresser drawer. The child’s sister reported that China had been beating him for the past four years.
Charles is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9 and faces up to 16 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jake Cameron, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys April N. Russo and Marc J. Birnbaum and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Claire M. Horrell are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-248.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Statement at Egypt’s Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the UK, Simon Manley.
Thank you, Mr President.
The United Kingdom recognises Egypt’s progress, including the 2021 National Human Rights Strategy.
The arbitrary detention of journalists, activists and human rights defenders remains deeply concerning. The continued detention of Alaa Abd El-Fattah, detained for spreading false news, who has now served his five-year sentence including pre-trial detention, is unacceptable.
We recommend that Egypt:
Releases Human Rights Defender Alaa Abd El-Fattah,
Releases all detainees held for exercising their right to freedom of expression and lifts restrictions on news and social media websites in line with the ICCPR.
Ensures the new Criminal Procedures Code guarantees fair trial standards, and ends the practice of ‘rotating’ detainees in pre-trial detention,
Ocala, Florida – United District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Rickey Lee Miller, Jr. (45, Ocala) to 15 years in federal prison, followed by a life term of supervised release, for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Miller entered a guilty plea on September 6, 2024.
According to court documents, on July 27, 2024, a detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed as a 15-year-old girl on an online messaging platform. Miller contacted the undercover detective’s account and initially asked if she wanted to “hang out.” Miller then engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the detective. During that conversation, Miller asked the detective if she would be interested in having “some fun” with Miller and a female friend. He also asked, “[W]ill you tell my friend your 18[?] I really don’t want her to know your real age.” When Miller subsequently drove to a predetermined location with his friend to meet with the minor for sex, he was arrested by law enforcement. The cellphone located in Miller’s vehicle was confirmed to be the phone communicating with the undercover detective.
“Attempting to entice a minor into harmful activity is a serious crime, and this prosecution underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “Alongside our partners at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Chiefland Police Department, we will work tirelessly to hold offenders accountable and ensure that our children are safe from those who seek to exploit them.”
This case was investigated by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Ocala Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Chiefland Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Harbour Grace RCMP is investigating damages to a vehicle that was parked close to Columbus Drive, in front of Wal-Mart on the parking lot of the Trinity Conception Square. The damage occurred sometime between 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on January 24, 2025.
Suspect(s) smashed the rear driver-side window of a 2016 Black Chevrolet Trax. Nothing was stolen from inside the vehicle. Given the area is heavily populated and the time of day when the crime occurred, police are looking for any possible witnesses to the incident.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone having information about this crime, including any available dash cam surveillance footage is asked to contact Harbour Grace RCMP at 709-596-5014. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers: #SayItHere 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visitwww.nlcrimestoppers.comor use the P3Tips app.
On January 24, 2025 at approximately 9 p.m., Battlefords RCMP received a report of a serious assault at a residence on 18th Avenue in North Battleford.
Officers immediately responded. Investigation determined an altercation occurred between two adult males. One stabbed the other, who was taken to hospital with injuries described as serious in nature.
The suspect then fled the scene of the assault. It was determined he was on court-ordered conditions, including a curfew that was electronically monitored, and orders not to possess a knife.
As a result of continued investigation, 25-year-old Keaton Nicotine from North Battleford is charged with:
– one count, aggravated assault, Section 268(2), Criminal Code;
– one count, uttering threats, Section 264.1(1)(a), Criminal Code; and
– one count, fail to comply with release order condition, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest and Battlefords RCMP are actively working to locate him.
Officers ask members of the public to report all sightings of Keaton Nicotine and information on his whereabouts.
Keaton Nicotine is described as approximately 6′ tall and 180 lbs. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
If you see him, do not approach him. Call Battlefords RCMP by dialling 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
On Nov. 22, 2024, police were notified of a GMC Sierra that was stolen near Entwistle, Alta. and was being GPS tracked by its owner. Officers from the Alberta RCMP Community Response Team, Parkland and Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Units were able to locate the vehicle. When a safe opportunity presented itself, officer moved in and arrested all three occupants two of which attempted to flee on foot. Continued investigation led officers to a stolen Subaru Outback at a nearby residence associated to the three individuals.
A 34-year-old individual, a resident of Spruce Grove, Alta., was charged with the following:
Possession of property obtained by Crime (x2);
Failure to comply with release order (x5);
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose;
Operate motor vehicle while prohibited.
A 40-year-old individual, a resident of Spruce Grove was charged with the following:
Possession of property obtained by crime;
Failure to comply with release order;
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
An 18-year-old individual, a resident of Spruce Grove, was charged with the following:
Possession of property obtained by Crime;
Failure to comply with release order;
Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
All three individuals also had outstanding warrants on property related offenses in the Parkland County and Camrose areas at the time of the arrest.
All individuals were taken before a justice of the peace. The 34-year-old and 18-year-old individuals were remanded into custody and the 40-year-old individual was released on bail with their next court date set for Nov. 27, 2024, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Stony Plain, Alta.
On Nov. 28, 2024, the Airdrie RCMP Crime Reduction Unit paired up with the RCMP Special Investigation Sections, RCMP Emergency Response Team and Calgary Police Tactical Team, and executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant. The search warrant was for two residences located in the Temple and Huntington Hills neighbourhoods of Calgary.
As a result of the investigation, police seized the following:
Canadian currency as proceeds of crime
Unstamped tobacco cigarettes
Suspected controlled substances including:
fentanyl, fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, powder and crack cocaine
In addition, police located an illegal cannabis grow operation where 265 cannabis plants in various stages of growth were seized.
A 52-year-old individual, a resident of Calgary, has been charged with the following offences:
Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x3)
Cultivate more than four cannabis plants
Selling tobacco products
Fraud under $5000 (defrauding the Government of Alberta for tobacco tax)
Possession of proceeds of crime over $5000
Theft of electricity
The individual was taken before a justice of the peace and was released on a release order with conditions. The individual is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 8, 2025, at the Calgary Courts Centre in Calgary, Alberta.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
From January 21 to 25 this year, the fourth All-Russian forum “KVN – School of Leaders” was held in Sochi as part of the International Festival “KiViN-2025”. The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the State University of Management and the Television Creative Association “AMiK”.
The goal of the Forum is to strengthen and further develop the youth movement of the Club of the Merry and Resourceful among employees of federal and regional executive authorities involved in the implementation of youth policy and educational work, as well as specialists from higher education institutions involved in programs in the same areas.
The central event of the Forum was the panel discussion “KVN – School of Leaders”. The participants were greeted via videoconference by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Olga Petrova. The speakers of the panel discussion were:
— Tatyana Omelchuk – representative of the Department for Public Projects of the Presidential Administration; — Vladimir Stroyev – rector of the State University of Management; — Alexander Maslyakov – general director of TTO “AMiK”; — Anton Serikov – general director of the Mashuk Knowledge Center; — Ruben Partevyan – deputy general director of TTO “AMiK”; — Pavel Pavlovsky – vice-rector of the State University of Management.
The participants discussed the scale of the KVN movement in Russian universities, which involves about 22 thousand activists from all over the country, who played about 650 games at their universities last year. “KiViN-2025” brought together more than 550 teams in Sochi. All of them represent enormous potential for the development of youth policy and creative industry in their regions.
In order to develop the university movement of the cheerful and resourceful, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, it was decided to create a Scientific and Methodological Center for KVN on the basis of the State University of Management, which will help everyone who wants to organize their games, leagues and cups, teach them how to interact with the management of universities, seek financial support outside of universities, and set the right vector for the development of student KVN in Russia.
The Forum program was rich and diverse. Key tasks and goals were presented at the introductory session. During the first day, participants also had a unique opportunity to meet with the management of TTO “AMiK”, discuss the prospects for the development of the KVN movement, and exchange their experiences with each other in an informal setting.
The second day opened with a lecture on the role and importance of the movement of the cheerful and resourceful in achieving the national goal – revealing the potential of each person, developing their talents and nurturing patriotism and social responsibility. Later, the participants had the opportunity to talk with the head of the Safe Internet League Ekaterina Mizulina. During the day, master classes were held on the legal aspects of organizing KVN games, as well as issues of interaction between official children’s leagues and regional branches of the “Movement of the First”.
The third day of the forum included a workshop on “Creative and motivational aspects of organizing Club games in educational institutions.” A strategic session on new forms of integrating the KVN movement into state youth policy was also held with the participation of representatives of the Department of State Youth Policy and Educational Activities of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
The last, fourth day, January 24, gave the participants the opportunity to attend a lecture on the formation of federal standards for organizing KVN games and training teams of various levels. This was followed by a strategic session dedicated to children’s KVN, issues of its development and interaction at the local level.
The organizers expressed confidence that the Forum will be an important step towards strengthening and further developing the KVN youth movement in Russia, contributing to the formation of a new generation of leaders capable of making a significant contribution to the future of the country.
At the International Festival “KiViN-2025” the State University of Management was represented by four teams: “Singlplayer”, “Ikhnie”, “Fildepersovye” and “Kontora”. The guys coped with dignity, showing brilliant performances and a high level of training.
“Singlplayer” once again made it to the second round of the festival and eventually received an invitation to the show “League of Cities” on TNT. “Fildepersovye” made it to the second round for the first time, performed in front of Alexander Maslyakov and got the opportunity to play in the Central Leagues of the International Union of KVN. “Kontora” made a successful debut at the Sochi festival and received an “increased rating”, which is a significant achievement for newcomers and gives the right to perform in the Central Leagues.
Moreover, these three teams were nominated for the “Break of the Day” after their performances in the first round. The editors only award this nomination to 5 out of 80-90 teams whose performances were the funniest and most memorable.
The KiViN-2025 festival for the teams of the KVN League of the State University of Management was incredibly successful. We are proud of the guys for their work, creativity and desire to win. Congratulations to everyone and wish them great success in the next season!
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 01/28/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Headline: FEMA To Offer Tips for Home Repair and Rebuilding in the Upstate
FEMA To Offer Tips for Home Repair and Rebuilding in the Upstate
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Residents repairing and rebuilding following Hurricane Helene can visit two Home Depot locations in Spartanburg County to get tips and advice on making homes stronger and safer against storms and other hazards. The Federal Emergency Management Agency mitigation specialists will be available Jan. 27-Jan. 31, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., to answer questions and share home-improvement tips and other proven building methods to prevent or lessen damage from future disasters. They will also share techniques for rebuilding hazard-resistant homes. This free information is geared toward do-it-yourselfers and general contractors.The locations are:Home Depot, 121 Dorman Center Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29301 Home Depot, 2300 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307FEMA specialists can answer questions and discuss topics such as:Techniques for home repair and rebuilding.Methods for preventing damage from future disasters.Tips for reducing your disaster risk – whether you own or rent a home.FEMA is encouraging South Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helen to apply for federal disaster assistance as soon as possible. The deadline to apply is Jan. 28, just one day away. The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center, apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or by calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day, and the help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. martyce.allenjr Tue, 01/28/2025 – 14:15
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
In 2025, companies in the German financial sector should ensure that their risk management incorporates more comprehensive Information on the consequences of climate change. According to BaFin, physical risks such as extreme weather or natural disasters in the form of major fires, droughts or floods could have a much greater impact on banks’ loan portfolios and insurers’ loss amounts in future. In this year’s “Risks in Focus”, BaFin describes these increasing physical risks as a relevant trend for the financial sector. At a press conference to mark the publication, BaFin President Mark Branson explained: “The environment in which companies in the financial sector have to operate is highly challenging because, for many risk drivers – such as climate change, geopolitical upheavals and quantum leaps in technological progress – we lack relevant historical experience. This makes it all the more important for companies in the financial sector to think in terms of scenarios, manage risks wisely and prepare themselves for potential shocks with well-stocked capital and liquidity buffers.”
In 2025, BaFin will focus particularly on six risks
In its outlook on risks, BaFin explains at the beginning of each year where the financial system in Germany is particularly vulnerable and which risks are most capable of jeopardising financial stability or the integrity of German financial markets. BaFin also highlights what it considers to be relevant trends that companies in the financial sector should be paying attention to. For financial institutions, the outlook provides a useful guideline for their own risk management. It also gives an overview of BaFin’s supervisory priorities for the current year.
In total, BaFin is focusing on six risks and three trends for the German financial sector:
Opportunities and risks from three trends
Alongside these risks, BaFin has identified three trends that offer opportunities for the economy and the financial sector, but that also harbour considerable risks: sustainability issues, digitalisation and geopolitical upheavals. In addition to the physical risks of advancing climate change, BaFin also sees risks in the uncertainties and costs associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy (transition risks). In BaFin’s view, “greenwashing”, i.e. attempts to sell products based on unfounded claims that they are particularly environmentally friendly or responsible, also still poses risks.
Digitalisation and geopolitics
When it comes to digitalisation, BaFin is concerned with increasing cyber risks, the responsible use of artificial intelligence, volatility in the market valuation of cryptoassets and, most recently, the future use of quantum computers. Although high-performance quantum computers have yet to be used on a mass scale, in the interests of IT security, financial companies should already be preparing for their potential application. In the future, quantum computers will be able to crack data encryption methods that are currently considered secure. Criminals could therefore steal data now to decrypt later with the aid of quantum computing. The development of protection plans is therefore crucial.
According to Branson, “Many companies are aware of all these risks and have invested in their IT security. It is important to us that companies continuously monitor current developments and threats. They must also prepare for crisis situations and adapt their security measures. This is what we expect of them. It is also what their customers expect of them.”
In terms of geopolitics, clear trends towards market fragmentation and increasing tensions between countries were observed in 2024. This could continue, with repercussions for the entire financial system. Although they are not an independent risk type, geopolitical crises can influence and exacerbate other relevant risks. The German financial system is particularly susceptible because of Germany’s close international trade links and the high export dependency of its economy.
Contact:Jacqueline Juknat
Head of Communications Phone: +49 (0) 228 / 4108 – 4629
Contact:Christoph Blumenthal
Head of Press Relations and Social Media Phone: +49 (0) 228 4108-7094
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ransomware attacks are disrupting and undermining business operations and draining revenue streams, according to new research from the Ponemon Institute, commissioned by Illumio, Inc., the leader in breach containment.
Findings from The Global Cost of RansomwareStudy reveal that 58% of organizations had to shut down operations following a ransomware attack, up from 45% in 2021. Forty percent reported a significant loss of revenue (up from 22% in 2021); 41% lost customers; and 40% had to eliminate jobs.
The research examined the scope of ransomware threats confronting organizations and the measures being implemented to reduce the risks and their impacts. Key findings include:
Attackers are reaching critical systems to cause maximum disruption: Ransomware attacks impacted 25% of critical systems, with systems down for 12 hours on average.
Organizations continue to spend significant time and money containing ransomware: On average, it took 17.5 people, 132 hours each to contain and remediate their largest ransomware attack.
Costs associated with reputation and brand damage now exceed those from legal and regulatory actions: 35% experienced significant brand damage from an attack (up from 21% in 2021).
Failure to prioritize investments that boost resilience is costing businesses: 44% lack the ability to quickly identify and contain attacks, and only 27% have implemented microsegmentation – a vital control for stopping the spread of breaches.
“Ransomware is more pervasive and impactful than ever, with more organizations forced to suspend operations or experiencing major business failure because of attacks,” said Trevor Dearing, Director of Critical Infrastructure at Illumio. “Organizations need operational resilience and controls like microsegmentation that stop attackers from reaching critical systems. By containing attacks at the point of entry, organizations can protect critical systems and data, and save millions in downtime, lost business, and reputational damage.”
Cloud and hybrid environments remain weak links, with attackers exploiting unpatched systems The increased connectivity of business systems and devices is making it harder for organizations to defend against ransomware attacks. Organizations perceive the cloud as being the most vulnerable, and 35% say a lack of visibility across hybrid environments makes it difficult to respond to ransomware attacks.
Desktops and laptops remain the most compromised devices (50%), with phishing and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) cited as top entry points for ransomware. Most attacks moved across the network to infect other devices. In over half of these cases (52%), attackers exploited unpatched systems to move laterally and escalate system privileges; up significantly from 33% in 2021.
Organizations are investing heavily in ransomware defense, but efforts are falling short According to the research, nearly a third of IT budgets (29%) are allocated to staff and technologies meant to prevent, detect, contain, and resolve ransomware attacks, yet attacks are still successful. Eighty-eight percent of organizations have fallen victim to a ransomware attack, despite 54% being confident in their security posture.
Organizations are also taking a chance on ransomware recovery and failing. Fifty-two percent of respondents believe having a full and accurate backup is a sufficient defense against ransomware. Yet only 13% were able to recover all impacted data following a ransomware attack.
The report also found larger organizational challenges in defending against ransomware including:
Ransomware reporting is still not happening: 72% of those that experienced a ransomware attack didn’t report it to law enforcement. Top reasons for not reporting include fear of publicizing the incident (39%); a payment deadline (38%); and fear of retaliation (38%).
Employees are more security conscious, but still a weak link: 40% are confident in the ability of employees to detect social engineering lures (up from 30% in 2021), however, insider negligence is the top challenge when responding to ransomware attacks.
Organizations are slow to adopt AI to combat ransomware: Only 42% have specifically adopted AI to help combat ransomware. More (51%) are concerned their organization may experience an AI-generated ransomware attack.
Research Methodology The research was conducted by Ponemon Institute on behalf of Illumio among 2,547 IT and cybersecurity practitioners in the US, UK, Germany, France, Australia and Japan. All participants have responsibility for addressing ransomware attacks within their organizations.
About Illumio Illumio, the most comprehensive Zero Trust solution for ransomware and breach containment, protects organizations from cyber disasters and enables operational resilience without complexity. By visualizing traffic flows and automatically setting segmentation policies, the Illumio Zero Trust Segmentation Platform reduces unnecessary lateral movement across the multi-cloud and hybrid infrastructure, protecting critical resources and preventing the spread of cyberattacks.
Contact Information Comms-team@illumio.com
About Ponemon Institute Ponemon Institute is dedicated to independent research and education that advances responsible information and privacy management practices within business and government. Our mission is to conduct high quality, empirical studies on critical issues affecting the management and security of sensitive information about people and organizations.
We uphold strict data confidentiality, privacy and ethical research standards. We do not collect any personally identifiable information from individuals (or company identifiable information in our business research). Furthermore, we have strict quality standards to ensure that subjects are not asked extraneous, irrelevant or improper questions.
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — insightsoftware, the most comprehensive provider of solutions for the Office of the CFO, today released its 2025 ESG Insights and Challenges Report. The report highlights the growing complexities that global organizations face in ESG reporting, including the challenges finance leaders experience gathering, integrating, and analyzing data from multiple sources.
With the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) set to take effect in the EU in 2025, the research explores how unprepared organizations are to meet the new regulatory requirements. Notably, 52% of businesses rely on data from more than five sources for ESG reporting, underscoring significant hurdles to achieving compliance.
This report reveals that while many organizations across the EU and the UK express confidence in their ability to comply with regulations like the CSRD, they struggle to find the right tools to accomplish the necessary compliance tasks. In fact, 58% of organizations are already exploring new technology to enhance their ESG reporting capabilities. Complying with regulations like the CSRD and overcoming reporting roadblocks remain highly important for global organizations to meet their ESG goals.
Key findings from the report include:
Technology capabilities are lacking: With 92% of organizations concerned that their ESG reporting processes won’t scale to meet future regulatory demands, organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to identify the necessary tools tailored to their operational needs. They cite data security and privacy concerns as the most prevalent issue (59%), given the sensitive nature of ESG data and regulatory scrutiny.
The compliance path forward is uncertain: Companies that do business in the EU need to comply with CSRD, however more than half of decision-makers remain heavily uncertain and confused about its requirements (52%). The primary goal of ESG reporting is to improve transparency and stakeholder engagement say 49%, and 86% of ESG decision-makers overwhelmingly value data visualization and dashboards as the most valuable features in an ESG technology solution.
Complex, timely processes hinder ESG reporting success: Amidst the digitalization wave, organizations fight against a steady influx of data. Data collection is the biggest hurdle, responded 95% of decision-makers. In fact, over half (52%) report spending more than four weeks each year solely on collecting data.
“Without the proper tools, global businesses risk hampering their organization’s ability to comply with ESG regulatory requirements,” said insightsoftware General Manager, EPM & Controllership, Monica Boydston. “This is why tools like the insightsoftware ESG Reporting Solution are crucial to enable teams to seamlessly collect, consolidate, analyze, and disclose ESG data from any source, reducing the risk of non-compliance and costly reporting errors.”
Leveraging established technologies in close and consolidation, disclosure management, and business intelligence (BI) that are trusted by thousands of customers worldwide, insightsoftware ESG provides the controls, audit trails, and security necessary for delivering investor-grade data and meeting regulatory filing requirements. It enables businesses to effectively measure the impact of their ESG initiatives, helping to attract ESG-focused investors.
Download the complete findings of the 2025 ESG Insights & Challenges Report here to learn how finance decision-makers can begin to address their ESG reporting challenges.
To explore insightsoftware ESG and how it can better support an organization’s sustainability goals from data collection to compliance and stakeholder communication, visit here.
Research Methodology insightsoftware’s 2025 ESG Insights & Challenges report was developed in coordination with Hanover Research. It was conducted to gain insights into the current trends and challenges facing finance leaders. To achieve this objective, a quantitative survey was administered to a sample of 400 ESG decision-makers across France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, and the UK. The survey targeted professionals at the director level or higher from organizations with over 500 employees, spanning accounting, finance, compliance, executive teams, regulatory affairs, and sustainability roles.
About insightsoftware
insightsoftware is a global provider of comprehensive solutions for the Office of the CFO. We believe an actionable business strategy begins and ends with accessible financial data. With solutions across financial planning and analysis (FP&A), accounting, and operations, we transform how teams operate, empowering leaders to make timely and informed decisions. With data at the heart of everything we do, insightsoftware enables automated processes, delivers trusted insights, boosts predictability, and increases productivity. Learn more at insightsoftware.com.
Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced James Darrell Hickox (38, Callahan) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for multiple federal offenses including conspiring to distribute narcotics, conspiring to defraud the United States, and tax evasion. The court also ordered Hickox to forfeit or abandon the money, firearms, and ammunition involved in these offenses. Hickox pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024.
According to court documents, while employed as a deputy with the Nassau County Sheriff’s and designated Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hickox and a co-conspirator engaged in extensive corrupt activity from 2017 – 2023. These acts included the theft of money and illegal drugs that were seized as evidence during criminal investigations; providing illegal drugs (including fentanyl and cocaine) to others to distribute on his behalf; and hiding from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) more than $420,000 in cash he had received because of his criminal activities. Hickox and his co-conspirator stole more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana from evidence and provided the drugs to others to sell on their behalf. They had covered up the theft by submitting falsified paperwork showing that the marijuana had been destroyed. Similarly, they stole a kilogram of cocaine from evidence and then gave it to a drug dealer to sell for them.
When Hickox’s residence was searched pursuant to a federal search warrant on March 10, 2023, agents found approximately 263 grams of a powder containing fentanyl, as well as cocaine. Hickox intended to distribute these substances. Agents also found a rifle that Hickox had illegally modified to function as a machinegun, as well as four additional firearms that had been seized during law enforcement investigations and should have been in evidence or lawfully destroyed. Hickox had drilled out and obliterated the serial number of one of these firearms. The agents also located more than $195,000 in cash proceeds from Hickox’s illicit activities. A search of Hickox’s workspace at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office revealed another 260 pills containing methamphetamine.
“Law enforcement officers who operate as though they are above the law betray the badge and the citizens they swore to protect,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler. “This case exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to holding public servants accountable if they violate the very laws they promised to uphold.”
“He betrayed the oath he took to become a police officer and lost his career. He also let down his co-workers and our community,” said Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. “Its law enforcement officers who do stupid things like this that erodes the confidence and trust in our profession by our citizens. His poor judgement and criminal behavior should not reflect negatively on all the good men and women at NCSO who go out every day and do it the right way to keep our citizens safe.”
“As a sworn law enforcement officer, Hickox took an oath to uphold the law,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “Instead, he turned his back on that oath and profited from the very crimes he was tasked with investigating. We commend our fellow law enforcement partners for their great work coming together to put a stop to this illegal betrayal of public trust. We will continue to investigate allegations of public corruption and follow the money to prosecute any individuals that abuse their position of trust for personal gain.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton. The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, and United States Customs and Border Protection wish to thank the Florida Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation during this investigation.
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Exterro Inc. is launching INFORM, a global webinar series designed as a premier resource for digital forensics practitioners. This virtual event will feature independent industry luminaries and experts sharing actionable insights and fostering a community of excellence.
“INFORM is an opportunity for digital forensics experts and practitioners across the globe to connect, learn, and grow,” says Harsh Behl, VP of Product for Digital Forensics at Exterro. “Participants will join an exclusive global community, gaining new ideas, sharing insights, and forging connections with peers and experts.”
Actionable Insights and Strategies for Attendees
Attendees will gain exclusive insights and strategies through deep dives with leaders who understand their biggest challenges. Each session provides real-world solutions and skills applicable immediately. From notable Organizations to leading industry voices, these trailblazers and innovators will showcase the latest in forensic investigation techniques and offer predictions that will shape the year ahead.
“The series will explore challenges and best practices of conducting investigations that investigators face in their jurisdictions, strategies for navigating diverse laws, legal frameworks, and fostering cooperation,” says Justin Tolman, the forensic evangelist and subject matter expert at Exterro. “Attendees will receive valuable insights from experts on overcoming challenges like cross-border hurdles to ensure compliance while driving effective investigative outcomes. By spanning regional perspectives, we’re offering attendees a holistic view of digital forensics that reflects the complex, global nature of today’s investigations.”
At this full-day event will, the experts will delve deeper into:
Strategies for tackling complex investigations, leveraging innovative tools and strategic collaboration to solve high-value crimes, and insights into dismantling intricate, cross-border criminal networks.
Approaches to help forensic teams focus on critical evidence, minimize review time, reduce costs, and implement best practices for refining forensic workflows to deliver results faster in complex investigations.
Advanced digital forensics techniques to identify, analyze, and mitigate insider threats and data exfiltration, including methods to uncover subtle indicators of compromise, trace unauthorized data movement, and implement robust prevention strategies.
Addressing unique cloud challenges, including multi-tenant architectures, data sovereignty, and dynamic environments, while ensuring compliance and minimizing downtime.
How police forces are reshaping their digital forensic processes through innovative cloud-based solutions, modernizing and streamlining investigations, and enhancing collaboration, scalability, and case resolution efficiency.
Challenges and considerations that digital forensic practitioners must address.
Various AI methods, such as image forensics, facial detection and recognition, and deep metadata analysis used for deepfake detection, the challenges posed by the rapid evolution of deepfake technology, and the importance of a multi-modal framework in safeguarding digital media integrity.
The interplay between eDiscovery and forensics in internal investigations, providing insights and tips for success and efficiency, including guidance on the admissibility of evidence and strategies for enhancing personal value.
INFORM will feature some of the brightest minds in digital forensics, including:
Farand C. Wasiak: Senior Special Agent at the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), with extensive experience in cybercrime and child protection investigations.
Prof. Triveni Singh: Cybercrime expert and Superintendent of Police (SP) for Cyber Crime in Uttar Pradesh, India, presenting a comprehensive guide to incident response in cloud environments.
Rob Fried: SVP and Global Head of Forensics at Sandline Global, renowned for leadership in data collection, expert testimony, and investigative training.
David Williams: Director of Global Public Safety & Justice at Microsoft, exploring the critical fight against deepfake technologies and the need for multi-modal detection methods.
John Price KPM: Detective Sergeant with West Midlands Police, offering insights into revolutionizing case management with cloud-based forensics and digital scene triage.
Why INFORM Matters Now
The surge in cybercrime, increasing complexity of legal compliance, and rapid growth of data sources have reshaped the digital forensics landscape. As investigations grow more intricate, the need for global collaboration and knowledge-sharing has become paramount. INFORM seeks to break down silos and create a platform where forensic professionals, regardless of geography, can access the expertise they need to stay ahead of emerging threats.
True to Exterro’s mission of accessibility and community-building, INFORM is a free-to-attend event. Participants can tailor their experience by selecting sessions that align with their interests or commit to the full day to experience the complete global narrative of digital forensics innovation.
To register and view the full schedule of speakers and sessions, visithere.
About Exterro:
Exterro empowers organizations and law enforcement agencies to achieve better legal,regulatory, andinvestigatory outcomes, while saving money and minimizing the impact of data risk. Its data risk management software is the only comprehensive platform that leverages data discovery, automation, and workflow optimization, and one of the first to utilize responsible AI to give users insight into and control over the complex interconnections of privacy, legal operations, digital investigations, cybersecurity response, compliance, and data governance. Thousands of corporations, law firms, managed services providers, and government and law enforcement agencies trust Exterro to manage their risks and drive successful outcomes at a lower cost. For more information, visit www.exterro.com.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) again warns consumers about the company AuraSwiss and the services it is offering. BaFin has already issued a warning, on 3 January 2025, about AuraSwiss and its website auraswiss.net, which has since been deactivated. The unknown operators are now using the nearly identical website auraswiss.co. BaFin suspects the operators of the websites of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
The content of the websites is identical to other platforms that BaFin has previously warned consumers about and that display the same opening sentence: “Invest in Success Prosper with Confidence!”
Anyone conducting banking business or providing financial, investment or cryptoasset services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.
BaFin is issuing this information on the basis of section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG) and section 10 (7) of the German Cryptomarkets Supervision Act (Kryptomaerkteaufsichtsgesetz).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the award ceremony of the Russian Government Prize in Tourism for 2024, which is being held as part of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality”. The list of winners was approved by order of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
January 28, 2025
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024. Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Inna Svyatenko
January 28, 2025
Previous news Next news
Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the Russian Government awards in the field of tourism for 2024
The winners of the award were the authors of 10 successful projects that contributed to the development of the Russian hospitality industry. Among them are initiatives to create new tourist facilities, innovative digital solutions, training programs, popularization of event tourism, as well as the development of tourism products accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
The Deputy Prime Minister thanked the laureates for their significant contribution to the tourism and hospitality industry. According to him, this award recognizes the best industry practices and a highly professional approach to work. The laureates’ projects are not only effective from a business perspective, they change people’s lives for the better.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has named the development of domestic tourism as one of his priorities. According to his instructions, the tourism industry’s share in GDP should increase to 5% by 2030, and the number of annual trips around the country should grow to 140 million.
“We see that more and more of our citizens are traveling around Russia, discovering its beauty, exploring new destinations and routes. By the end of 2024, Russians had made more than 92 million domestic trips – this is good growth. It is important that the laureates’ projects are aimed at creating hotel rooms for families with children in holiday destinations, as instructed by President Vladimir Putin, as well as a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities. We will continue to provide comfortable and accessible conditions for tourists. We will build hotels, seaside and ski resorts, amusement parks and other infrastructure. This will not only develop domestic tourism, but also increase the number of foreign guests,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.
He added that by decree of the head of state, 2025 has been declared the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland. It is important to build tourist routes to places of (military) glory of the Great Patriotic War in order to preserve the memory of the heroes and their exploits.
“Russian tourism is developing rapidly today. We see a growing interest in traveling around the country every year, both from Russians and our foreign guests. The hospitality industry has seen a large increase in investment in recent years, both private and public. But in addition to financial resources, tourism now needs new ideas that will allow it to create world-class tourism products and services. Therefore, the federal tourism award every year encourages authors of interesting projects that offer unconventional approaches to the development of the industry,” said Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov.
The award winners were also congratulated by Deputy Chairperson of the Federation Council Inna Svyatenko and Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Tourism and Development of Tourism Infrastructure Sangadzhi Tarbaev.
The winners receive a cash prize– 1 million rubles. In 2024, 88 projects were submitted for consideration by the award council.
2. The project “Ecopark “Yasnopole”. Living Village” is an association of several farms on a territory of 500 hectares in the Yasnogorsk district of the Tula region, which are engaged in agricultural and agrotourism activities, creating all the conditions for the development of surrounding villages and settlements. The ecopark uses energy-efficient technologies in construction and alternative energy sources, as well as advanced eco-technologies in agriculture – organic farming, a nursery of soil-forming microorganisms and others. The ecopark is visited by more than 20 thousand people per year. (Awardee – D.A. Cherepkov)
3. The Green Path of the Krasnaya Polyana Resort Project, during which 29 events were held with the participation of over 2.5 thousand people. Within the framework of the project, several popular science books were published, the accessibility of the Krasnaya Polyana resort territory for people with limited mobility was increased, and projects to support children’s adaptive sports and physical education were implemented. Seven of the nine hotels of the resort passed independent environmental certification. (Awardees – L.M. Shagarov, A.A. Molochkova)
4. TV channel “My Planet”, which has been covering the sphere of Russian tourism for 15 years. The TV channel ranks third in the rating of cited popular science TV channels. The audience of the TV channel is 55 million viewers per year. (Awardees – G.V.Kovbasyuk, N.A.Kuznetsova, A.B.Pankratov)
5. The Hospitality Classes project in Crimea is aimed at creating conditions for successful socialization and professional self-determination of teenagers. The project program consists of nine modules, each of which is dedicated to a separate area in the hospitality industry and professions in this area. (Awardees – N.A. Vistunova, D.S. Kolesnikova, A.S. Petrova, E.V. Ponomareva)
6. The project “System for the Development of Domestic and Inbound Tourism Based on the Synergy of the Tourism Business and the Government” – includes analytical and expert work on studying the preferences of Russians in recreation, assessment and analysis of the tourism potential of the regions, a set of training events for the regional tourism business. Based on this data, a tourism product is formed, a strategy for its promotion and implementation is developed. (Awardees – S.I. Gonetskaya, O.N. Ivanova, A.L. Malinina, G.Sh. Musalova, A.E. Fokeeva)
7. The project of the active recreation park “Malskaya Dolina” is a modern complex for active recreation with developed infrastructure. It is located in the village of Rogovo in the Pskov region, a historical place on the territory of the Izborsko-Malskaya Valley – a natural monument of regional significance. The territory of the park is 194 hectares. (Awardee – V.A. Seliverstov)
8. “Glamping Ecosystem “Green Trail”” is one of the first glampings in Russia, which contributed to the development of the corresponding recreation format. On its territory there are tents and guest houses, as well as a clearing for accommodating tent tourists and caravanners. Every year the hotel receives about 7 thousand people. (Awardee – I.I. Mamai)
9. The project “Inclusive tourism as a comprehensive system of habilitation and rehabilitation of children with autism spectrum disorders”, during the existence of which more than 200 children with disabilities took part in trips. (Awardee – A.V. Senik)
10. Research project “Rating of the event potential of Russian regions” is the first analytical tool for assessing the level of development of infrastructure for event and business tourism in the regions. Since 2014, the rating has annually assessed the potential of Russian regions in the sphere of organizing events on their territory that contribute to the development of business and event tourism, the growth of the investment attractiveness of the region, as well as support for the socio-economic and cultural life of the region. (Awardee – D.A. Ostrovskaya)
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Informal comments to the media by Michael Imran Kanu, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, on behalf of the members of the Security Council that are State parties to the Rome Statute to the International Criminal Court, on Sudan.
Detectives investigating the fatal collision at the Study Prep School in Wimbledon in July 2023 have arrested the driver as part of their ongoing investigation, as they appeal for further potential witnesses to come forward.
The 48-year-old female driver was arrested today, Tuesday 28 January, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is currently in custody. This is the second time she has been arrested for this offence, the first time being at the scene of the collision on 6 July 2023.
Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau – both eight years old – died when a car crashed through a fence and collided with a building at the school.
An initial investigation by the Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC) resulted in a direction from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in June 2024 that the driver should face no further action.
After concerns were raised by the families of Nuria and Selena regarding this outcome, it was agreed the Specialist Crime Review Group (SCRG) would carry out a review of the investigation. That review identified lines of enquiry which required further examination.
In October the investigation was moved to the Specialist Crime Command, under Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford. He leads a team who have since been pursuing new lines of enquiry identified by the review.
Detective Superintendent Basford said: “I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to any witnesses or individuals with information who are yet to speak to police to please come forward.
“Were you attending the local golf course or driving in or around the area of the Study Prep School in Wimbledon at the time of the collision? Did you see the vehicle – a distinctive gold Land Rover Defender – in the lead up to the collision? We believe there were people in the local area who have not been spoken to by police and remain unidentified. I would ask those individuals to please contact us.
“Our main priority is to ensure the lines of enquiry identified by the review are progressed. This is a live investigation and in order to maintain its integrity I can’t go into further detail at this stage. I would urge people to avoid speculation.”
+ To provide information you can contact the major incident room on 0207 175 0793, call 101 quoting CAD 6528/27Jan, or message @MetCC on X providing the CAD reference. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online.
A 2022 report by Professor Alexis Jay, the former Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, found child sexual abuse to be “endemic” in England and Wales.1
On Thursday 16 January 2025, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper announced a “rapid audit” of grooming gangs, plus up to five new “victim centred, locally-led inquiries”. The national three-month audit, led by Dame Louise Casey, will “begin soon”.2
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will tomorrow question the Metropolitan Police service and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime on the work being done in relation to grooming gangs in London, and to understand what impact the national audit will have in the capital.
The Committee will also continue its scrutiny of the Mayor’s draft Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029.
The guests are:
Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist KPM, Frontline Policing, Metropolitan Police Service
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Stricter age verification checks and a ban on doorstep drops will be introduced to greater protect young people from knife crime.
Image: Getty Images
These new measures will also prevent weapons getting into the wrong hands.
A stringent 2-step system will be mandated for all retailers selling knives online requiring customers to submit photo ID at point of sale and again on delivery. In addition, delivery companies will only be able to deliver a bladed article to the same person who purchased it.
The government has an ambitious mission to halve knife crime within a decade as part of the Plan for Change and a core element of this will be addressing problems in the online sales space.
Under the new measures a person may need to submit a copy of a photo ID such as driving licence or passport, as well as proof of address such as a utility bill, before showing ID again when the package is delivered. This could also include a person submitting a current photo or video of themselves to an online retailer alongside their ID.
It will also be illegal to leave a package containing a bladed weapon on a doorstep when no one is in to receive it.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
It’s a total disgrace how easy it still is for children to get dangerous weapons online.
More than two years after Ronan Kanda was killed with a ninja sword bought by a teenager online, too many retailers still don’t have proper checks in place.
It’s too easy to put in false birth dates, parcels are too often being dropped off at a doorstop with no questions asked.
We cannot go on like this. We need much stronger checks – before you buy, before it’s delivered.
The measures I am setting out today will be crucial in addressing this problem and are part of our Plan for Change and mission to make streets safer.
Last year the Home Secretary commissioned Commander Stephen Clayman, the national police lead on knife crime, to carry out a full review into the online sale and delivery of knives.
The full report is expected at the end of the month and stronger ID checks are one of the recommendations.
We have also already announced that we will hold social media executives to account for knife crime related content which glorifies and incites violence amongst young people. Senior execs of social media companies will face significant fines in the region of £10,000 for failing to swiftly remove knife crime related content from their platforms.
The measures announced today are set to be included as part of the Crime and Policing Bill which is expected to be introduced to Parliament by spring, with more proposals still to come in the coming weeks.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Overpass on the Ivanovo-Rodniki highway, Ivanovo region
According to a study by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), about 56% of Russians are satisfied with the quality and accessibility of regional and local roads. The survey was conducted in December 2024 to measure the relevant indicator of the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads.” This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.
“We can now confidently say that the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads” has demonstrated successful results. We have met all the key indicators, and even exceeded some. The main thing is that people notice positive changes. This is confirmed by social surveys. According to VTsIOM, 56% of Russians are satisfied with the quality and accessibility of regional and local roads. Improving the quality of roads in the regions is not only a matter of travel comfort, but also a tangible contribution to the overall improvement of the quality of life of citizens. Safe, modern roads contribute to the development of territories, increase population mobility and open up new socio-economic opportunities. Of course, not all roads have become high-quality yet. There are still many problems in this area, but we are gradually solving them. Although the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads” has been completed, the work will be continued in the new national project “Infrastructure for Life”, – said Marat Khusnullin.
The results obtained during the survey are significantly higher than the planned indicators set by the national road project passport. The target value of the indicator in 2024 is 50%.
“The results of the implementation of the national project “Safe High-Quality Roads” have not gone unnoticed. Over six years, in order to achieve the road national project indicators for all programs with federal funding, we have repaired, reconstructed and built more than 150 thousand km of roads across the country. The main task that we set for ourselves has been accomplished – to improve the quality of life of the population, to ensure that in every region, in every city, in every village, people feel positive changes in the road industry. This is why we controlled all stages of the implementation of road activities with an accuracy of up to a penny of budget funds spent and up to every centimeter of asphalt laid,” said the head of the Federal Road Agency Roman Novikov.
The survey, which involved 172 thousand respondents, was conducted in 89 regions. The regions that were leaders in terms of population satisfaction with the quality and accessibility of regional and local roads were the Chechen Republic (84%), the city of Sevastopol (83%) and the Belgorod Region (78%).
The leading regions (the indicator value is 65% and higher) also include: Tyumen Oblast (74%), Moscow (73%), the Republic of Crimea (73%), the Republic of Tatarstan (73%), Kaliningrad Oblast (70%), Lugansk People’s Republic (68%), Murmansk Oblast (66%), Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (66%), Zaporozhye Oblast (65%), Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (65%), Vologda Oblast (65%), Mari El Republic (65%), Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (65%).
According to a study by VTsIOM, citizens note positive changes in the provision of high-quality, accessible and safe roads, primarily due to timely, high-quality repair work and the construction of new roads, interchanges and infrastructure.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 17-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery and attempted aggravated burglary that occurred in Tennant Creek on Saturday.
Around 7.40am, police received reports that a male had attempted to unlawfully enter a residence on Ambrose Street and assaulted the two occupants at the property.
The offender allegedly attended the premises, armed himself with a frying pan and threatened a 66-year-old female, demanding money and car keys. He obtained keys from the 66-year-old and then attempted to gain entry to the residence, before attempting to access the victim’s car. He allegedly choked the 85-year-old male victim and attempted to strike him with the frying pan, narrowly missing.
A nearby neighbour intervened and the offender fled on foot.
Police responded and a crime scene was declared.
The 17-year-old male was located and arrested yesterday by Tennant Creek police. He was identified as being the remaining outstanding offender in relation to a stolen motor vehicle incident earlier this month.
He has been remanded in custody and charged with the following in relation to both incidents:
Blackmail and Extortion
Aggravated Robbery
Two counts of Aggravated Burglary
Ram Raid
Attempted Aggravated Burglary
Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle
Criminal Damage
Theft
Superintendent Katie Hatzismalis said, “This type of offending against vulnerable victims is abhorrent.
“I acknowledge and commend the excellent work of the officers involved in the investigation and subsequent arrest, and thank the members of the community for their assistance.”
Police urge anyone who witnesses crime or antisocial behaviour to contact police on 131 444, or in an emergency dial 000. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Agents Seized 3D Printers, Equipment to Build Firearms and Silencers from Defendant’s Bedroom
MACON, Ga. – A technical college student who described himself as a “machinist” and was building machineguns and silencers using a 3D printer out of his Lizella, Georgia, bedroom pleaded guilty to manufacturing a machinegun.
Jaden Michael-William Pope, 20, of Lizella, pleaded guilty to one count of manufacture of an unregistered machinegun before U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell on Jan. 27. Pope faces a maximum of ten years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 13. There is no parole in the federal system.
“3-D printed machineguns and silencers pose a significant threat to the safety of our communities by increasing the access of illegally manufactured rapid-fire weapons to potentially dangerous individuals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker. “I applaud our local and federal law enforcement partners for shutting down this clandestine machinegun manufacturing operation.”
“The collaboration between ATF and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office showcases our unwavering commitment to confronting the illegal production of firearms, especially those created through advanced methods like 3D printing,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “These weapons are designed to evade detection and accountability, posing an undeniable threat to public safety. Together, we are ensuring such dangers are swiftly and decisively addressed.”
According to the stipulation of fact and other statements referenced in court, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office was investigating Pope in Sept. 2023, for stealing firearms out of vehicles at night. He was arrested and admitted to stealing from cars. Investigators found photos on Pope’s cell phone of personally manufactured firearms and firearm silencers as well as screenshots from a website called Yeggi, which offers 3D-printed templates of AR-15 full auto sears. A confidential source (CS) notified law enforcement that Pope was a machinist who was manufacturing firearms, including silencers, in his bedroom and that he had watched Pope shoot a firearm with a manufactured silencer that significantly diminished the sound.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) was contacted to further the investigation. Agents found photos Pope posted on Facebook of personally manufactured firearms, including a Glock handgun with a “switch,” which is a device that allows the semi-automatic firearm to fire full-automatic with a single trigger pull. On his Facebook profile, Pope described himself as a “machinist” and a student at a local technical college. Agents executed a search warrant at Pope’s home on Dec. 12, 2023, and found four 3D printers, three computers, two machineguns, nine silencers and a short-barreled rifle. Agents also found a stolen .45 caliber pistol.
Along with the 3D printers and weapons seized, agents found additional evidence that Pope manufactured the machineguns, silencers and the short-barreled rifle. Agents found diagrams and instructions for building the firearms, notes related to their production, scrap parts, and failed 3D prints and residue. Agents analyzed the computers used with the 3D printers and found “g-codes” which is the computer programming code used to 3D print the machineguns, silencers and the short-barreled rifle. While searching the electronic devices, agents found methamphetamine hidden within a USB device.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 14-year-old male in relation to a robbery that occurred in Alice Springs on Sunday.
Around 11.50am, police received reports that a robbery had occurred at a service station in Braitling.
Four male youths had allegedly entered the store and stolen food and drinks, with one of the youths allegedly armed with an edged weapon. The youth allegedly threatened staff with the weapon before all offenders fled the scene on foot.
Strike Force Viper members attended and commenced investigations. CCTV footage was reviewed, and the 14-year-old male was identified and arrested around 12.55pm. The edged weapon was confirmed to be a plastic toy and was seized by police.
Investigations are ongoing to identify the remaining offenders.
Police urge anyone with information to contact police on 131 444, quoting reference P25026196. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.
This article was written before The Electronic Intifada’s founding editor Ali Abunimah was arrested in Switzerland on Saturday afternoon for “speaking up for Palestine”. He has since been released and deported.
SPECIAL REPORT:By Ali AbunimahIsrael smuggled one of its soldiers out of Cyprus, apparently fearing his detention on charges related to the genocide in Gaza, according to Dyab Abou Jahjah, the co-founder of The Hind Rajab Foundation.
Abou Jahjah, a Belgian-Lebanese political activist and writer, told The Electronic Intifada livestream last week that his organisation was stepping up efforts all over the world to bring to justice Israeli soldiers implicated in the slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and children over the last 15 months.
Gaza Ceasefire Day 5. Video: The Electronic Intifada
Speaking from Gaza, Electronic Intifada contributor Donya Abu Sitta told us how people there are coping following the ceasefire, especially those returning to devastated homes and finding the remains of loved ones.
She shared a poem inspired by the hopes and fears of the young children she continued to teach throughout the genocide.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to attack Palestinians in some parts of Gaza. That was among developments covered in the news brief from associate editor Nora Barrows-Friedman, along with the efforts to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation.
Contributing editor Jon Elmer covered the latest ceasefire developments and the resistance operations in the period leading up to it.
We also discussed whether US President Donald Trump will force Israel to uphold the ceasefire and what the latest indications of his approach are.
‘There is an openness to the glee and celebration of genocidal violence in Israel that I think goes beyond anything we saw during the Iraq war or during apartheid in South Africa.’
And this writer took a critical look at Episcopal Bishop of Washington Mariann Edgar Budde.
She has been hailed as a hero for urging Donald Trump to respect the rights of marginalised groups, as the new president sat listening to her sermon at Washington’s National Cathedral.
But over the last 15 months, Budde has parroted Israeli atrocity propaganda justifying genocide, and has repeatedly failed to condemn former President Joe Biden’s key role in the mass slaughter and did not call on him to stop sending weapons to Israel.
Pursuing war criminals In the case of the soldier in Cyprus, The Hind Rajab Foundation filed a complaint, and after initial hesitation, judicial authorities in the European Union state opened an investigation of the soldier.
“When that was opened, the Israelis smuggled the soldier out of Cyprus,” Abou Jahjah said, calling the incident the first of its kind.
“And when I say smuggling, I’m not exaggerating, because we have information that he was even taken by a private jet,” Abou Jahjah added.
The foundation is named after Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was in a car with members of her family, trying to escape the Israeli onslaught in Gaza City, when they were attacked.
The story of Hind, trapped all alone in a car, surrounded by dead relatives, pleading over the phone for rescue, a conversation that was recorded by the Palestinian Red Crescent, is among the most poignant and brazen crimes committed during Israel’s genocide.
According to Abou Jahjah, lawyers and activists determined to seek justice for Palestinians identified a gap in the efforts to hold Israel accountable that they could fill: pursuing individual soldiers who have in many cases posted evidence of their own crimes in Gaza on social media.
The organisation and its growing global network of volunteers and legal professionals has been able to collect evidence on approximately 1000 Israeli soldiers which has been handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In addition to filing cases against Israeli soldiers traveling abroad, such as the one in Cyprus, and other recent examples in Brazil, Thailand and Italy, a main focus of the foundation is individuals who hold both Israeli and another nationality.
“Regarding the dual nationals, we are not under any restraint of time,” Abou Jahjah explained. “For example, if you’re Belgian, Belgium has jurisdiction over you.”
Renouncing their second nationality cannot shield these soldiers, according to Abou Jahjah, because courts will take into account their citizenship at the time the alleged crime was committed.
Abou Jahjah feels confident that with time, war criminals will be brought to justice. The organisation is also discussing expanding its work to the United States, where it may use civil litigation to hold perpetrators accountable.
Unsurprisingly, Israel and friendly governments are pushing back against The Hind Rajab Foundation’s work, and Abou Jahjah is now living under police protection.
“Things are kind of heavy on that level, but this will not disrupt our work,” Abou Jahjah said. “It’s kind of naive of them to think that the work of the foundation depends on a person.”
“We have legal teams across the planet, very capable people. Our data is spread across the planet,” Abou Jahjah added. “There’s nothing they can do. This is happening.”
Resistance report In his resistance report, Elmer analysed videos of operations that took place before the ceasefire, but which were only released by the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, after it took effect.
He also previewed Saturday, 25 January, when nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for four Israeli female soldiers.
Will Trump keep Israel to the ceasefire? Pressure from President Trump was key to getting Israel to agree to a ceasefire deal it had rejected for almost a year. But will his administration keep up the pressure to see it through?
There have been mixed messages, with Trump recently telling reporters he was not sure it would hold, but also intriguingly distancing himself from Israel. “That’s not our war, it’s their war.”
We took a look at what these comments, as well as a renewed commitment to implementing the deal expressed by Steve Witkoff, the president’s envoy, tell us about what to expect.
As associate editor Asa Winstanley noted, “this ceasefire is not nothing.” It came about because the resistance wore down the Israeli army, and statements from Witkoff hinting that the US may even be open to talking to Hamas deserve close attention.
‘Largely silent’ By her own admission, Bishop Mariann Budde has remained “largely silent” about the genocide in Gaza, except when she was pushing Israeli propaganda or engaging in vague, liberal hand-wringing about “peace” and “love” without ever clearly condemning the perpetrators of mass slaughter and starvation of Palestinians, demanding that the US stop the flow of weapons making it possible, or calling for accountability.
This type of evasion serves no one.
You can watch the programme on YouTube, Rumble or Twitter/X, or you can listen to it on your preferred podcast platform.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that FEI WANG “WANG,” age 38, pled guilty on January 24, 2025 to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and for obstructing proceedings, and was sentenced during the same proceeding to 3 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release and payment of a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
WANG, a Chinese national, was the Chief Engineer of the M/V ASL Singapore, a Chinese-owned bulk carrier registered in Liberia and engaged in trade in the United States. The ASL Singapore arrived in New Orleans on February 26, 2024. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an inspection, which included review of the vessel’s Oil Record Books. In his plea, WANG acknowledged presenting these books to the Coast Guard knowing they contained fraudulent entries and omitted information about discharging oily bilge water directly overboard before arriving in the United States. The falsified logs were intended to conceal the fact that since at least October 2023, when WANG boarded the vessel, the crew had dumped oily bilge water overboard directly from the bilge holding tank and was not complying with international treaties regulating oil pollution from ships.
According to court documents and statements, the crew used a portable pump and flexible hose—a so-called “magic pipe”—to dispose of oily bilge water in violation of MARPOL (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), and without the use of the appropriate pollution prevention equipment and monitoring. This was done prior to WANG boarding the vessel and continued while he was Chief Engineer, in charge of all engine room operations. The vessel’s Oily Water Separator was never properly used during WANG’s time as Chief Engineer.
“Today’s sentencing highlights the commitment of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) to hold individuals accountable for violations of MARPOL, particularly in cases involving the discharge of oily waste,” stated Damon J. Youmans, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Gulf Field Office. “CGIS will continue to collaborate with our partners from the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard, Sector New Orleans to enforce environmental laws and investigate these offenses.”
The Coast Guard Investigative Service and the EPA Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine M. Calogero of the General Crimes Unit, and G. Dall Kammer, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, are prosecuting the case.