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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK approach to freedom of religion or belief: Lord Collins’ speech, July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    UK approach to freedom of religion or belief: Lord Collins’ speech, July 2025

    Minister responsible for human rights, Lord Collins of Highbury, gave a speech at an event outlining the UK’s approach to freedom of religion or belief.

    Welcome everyone. It’s great to see you all this morning.

    It was here in this magnificent room last year that the Foreign Secretary and I set out the United Kingdom’s approach to human rights and governance.  

    A few days later, the Prime Minister appointed David Smith MP as the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief – or FoRB.

    Thank you to David for the energy and commitment he has brought to the role over the last 7 months.

    Before I hand over to him to outline our approach to freedom of religion or belief, I want to reflect on why it matters so deeply to the UK and how we’re making a difference.

    Many of you will know that this is a cause I have championed for a long time. As the Foreign Secretary has said, the rights and freedoms of individuals must be front and centre of all our work.

    We promote human rights, including FoRB, not just because it is in our national interest but also because it is the right thing to do. Human rights, the rule of law and good governance are not just ideals we aspire to. They are the foundations that drive this government’s missions.  

    The evidence is clear. Countries that uphold rights and the rule of law tend to be more stable, more prosperous and more resilient. That’s why I wrote to all Heads of Mission last month, underlining the importance of embedding our human rights priorities into every aspect of our work.

    Doing so supports our partners, strengthens our alliances, and helps us tackle shared challenges, whether that’s conflict, climate, growth or migration. And I encouraged our diplomats to draw on the expertise of our dedicated Special Envoys, including David.

    As you know, the right to freedom of religion or belief sits at the heart of our human rights approach and is central to the UK’s foreign policy. Because championing FoRB is about championing equal rights for all.  

    We know that where this freedom is under threat, other rights are often at risk too. And we know that violations disproportionately affect women and minorities.

    So this is about standing up for people who face discrimination, harassment, or even violence, simply for what they do, or do not, believe. 

    Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

    But these rights still remain out of reach for too many people. From Uyghurs in China, to Church members in Nicaragua, to religious and ethnic minorities caught up in Sudan’s civil war, and Ukrainians under siege by Russia, persecution and repression are a daily reality.

    We know this work is complex. There is no one size fits all. In that context, we must prioritise approaches that deliver results on the ground. Sometimes that requires speaking out publicly. Sometimes it means engaging privately. We have and will continue to do both.

    We are not afraid to raise issues and we do so regularly. But we also know that real progress comes through partnership. That’s why we work with others across governments, civil society, and multilateral institutions, to find common ground and deliver change.  

    Earlier this year, I was relieved to hear of the release of Mubarak Bala, a Nigerian atheist and president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria. He had been imprisoned for sharing posts on Facebook which allegedly insulted the prophet Muhammad. His release was the result of a long running campaign by Humanists International, which the UK was pleased to support, along with many of you here today.  

    Similarly, I know many of you were actively seeking the release of Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo in Cuba, jailed for peaceful protest. Our Foreign Secretary wrote an open letter to him in December to express solidarity and publicly call on the Cuban authorities to release him. And we were delighted to hear of his release in January.  

    These are powerful reminders that our collective efforts can have real impact. And we must also learn from the past to meet the challenges of the present. That’s why the UK was proud to hold the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance over the last year.

    We used our initiative to lead international efforts to promote Holocaust remembrance, tackle distortion, strengthen the fight against antisemitism, and ensure that future generations remember the lessons of the past. This is exactly the kind of collaboration essential for making FoRB a reality for all.

    So let me end by reaffirming this government’s commitment. We will use the strength of our global network to protect and promote freedom of religion or belief. We will work with all of you, across sectors and borders, to turn principles into progress.

    Because only by working together can we build a world where everyone, everywhere, can live with dignity, free to believe – or not believe – without fear.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK approach to freedom of religion or belief: UK Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief speech, July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    UK approach to freedom of religion or belief: UK Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief speech, July 2025

    The UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, gave a speech outlining the UK’s approach to freedom of religion or belief at a recent event held at the FCDO

    Welcome

    Thank you, Lord Collins.

    My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Excellencies, fellow Parliamentarians, Foreign Office colleagues, and representatives of civil society, welcome to the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and the heart of the UK’s relationship with the rest of the world.

    As Lord Collins has said, collaboration and partnerships are critical to making Freedom of Religion or Belief for all a reality.  So, what does that look like?  Today I am pleased to be here to set out the UK’s approach to achieving this goal.

    I would like to suggest that our place on the international stage must continue to revolve around our values as a country, values which we aim to humbly share with the rest of the world.

    It’s easy to talk about principles like ‘freedom’, ‘human rights’, ‘respect’, ‘tolerance’ or ‘justice’ – and far harder to live up to their meaning in our actions.

    And yet the history of this country is one in which we have worked hard to create a plural society based on these values. We don’t always get it right, but I am proud that in the UK today you are free to practice your religion or belief, without fear of persecution.

    I am also proud of the UK’s history of championing these values within the international rules-based order, not least as an original supporter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1966.

    The foundation for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all is clearly set out in Article 18 of both documents.

    And our shared commitment to upholding the rights enshrined in these documents is a phenomenal strength.  When we look around the world today and see growing evidence of persecution based on religion or belief, we know we must act.

    The challenge

    Most of you in this room are well aware of the challenge we face. But some facts bear repeating.

    You will know that, according to the Pew Research Centre, the number of countries with “high” or “very high” levels of government restrictions on FoRB, is at its highest level since 2007. At the community level, social hostilities involving religion (including violence and harassment by private individuals, organisations, or groups) are also on the rise, further reducing respect for human rights in general and FoRB in particular.

    You will know that, according to the charity Open Doors, 380 million Christians alone are persecuted worldwide because of their faith.

    Persecution on the basis of religion or belief, enacted by States themselves and social groups, is taking place on every continent in the world.

    It includes social ostracism, police harassment, arbitrary detention, denial of citizenship, assault, destruction of sites of religious worship, torture, and killings.

    In Pakistan, Ahmadiyya Muslims are not recognised as Muslims by the State, and their mosques have repeatedly been desecrated by extremist groups.

    In Iran, the Baha’i are acutely vulnerable to scapegoating, incitement and threats of violence from authorities.

    In North Korea, those seeking to exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief face surveillance and arbitrary detention, with Christians and others treated as political criminals if their faith is discovered.

    Lord Collins has mentioned Mubarak Bala. Humanists International’s Freedom of Thought Report underlines the risks humanists and atheists face globally.

    As their latest edition states, “blasphemy” laws exist in 89 countries across the globe.  7 countries have the death penalty for blasphemy, and a further 63 countries have prison sentences for related “offences”.

    So what is to be done?

    These are not niche issues. FoRB is central to the problems of the world today and to our efforts to build a better world at peace with itself.

    Horrific acts such as the murder of worshippers in a church in Damacus last month are not only attacks on people for what they believe in, but also attempts to destabilise societies and spread division.

    FoRB demonstrates the core principle that human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

    If you have no freedom to worship, you have no freedom of assembly.

    If you have no freedom of belief, you have no freedom of conscience.

    If you have no freedom to share your faith, you have no freedom of speech.

    If you have no freedom to practice your faith or belief you are not equal in dignity and rights.

    And so, today, the UK makes a new commitment to the centrality of FoRB in our foreign policy.

    Countries that respect FoRB and in which all constituent communities can flourish are more stable, more secure and more prosperous.

    And respect for FoRB internationally is good for the UK domestically. Shared values of FoRB with other countries promotes secure, stable and prosperous partners that can contribute to UK security, growth, development, and management of migration.

    I was honoured to take on the role of UK Special Envoy for FoRB in December last year. Since then, I have met with a wide range of experts, activists and international partners; as well as UK officials and the FCDO ministerial team to listen and build my understanding of the opportunities we have to make a difference.

    This engagement, and close collaboration with Lord Collins has resulted in the framework I will set out today. As Lord Collins has underlined, our approach to FoRB is situated clearly within the FCDO’s wider human rights approach.

    Our overarching goal is a reduction in the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed, and to promote internationally the right to FoRB as fundamental to human flourishing.

    There are 5 core strands to our work

    As I have said, the international standards for FoRB and the system that supports them are central to defending the rights of individuals. That is why the first strand of our approach is to uphold and maintain support for this framework within multilateral fora.

    This means working through, and with, institutions such as the UN and OSCE to promote FoRB for all. I have been to the Human Rights Council twice, including last week where I spoke alongside the UN Special Rapporteur for FoRB about FoRB in Tibet. And I am delighted to have Eleanor Sanders, the UK Human Rights Ambassador, here with us today. 

    We will continue to work with international partners to take country-specific action where appropriate, for example through the UN’s Universal Periodic Review Process in which the UK regularly raises FoRB, and on promoting and protecting FoRB in multilateral resolutions.  

    Secondly, we will work to achieve better outcomes on FoRB through targeted bilateral relationships. FoRB matters everywhere and we will deploy our extensive diplomatic presence around the world to encourage partners towards behaviour, legislation and policies that enable individuals to exercise their right to FoRB, and encourage more inclusive and tolerant societies.

    As I’m sure Eleanor agrees, even Special Envoys can’t be everywhere, all the time. So, working with the teams here, I will be focussing on countries where the need is greatest; where opportunities exist to make positive change; and where the UK, specifically, has the relationships and partnerships to help achieve this.

    Our approach here is about partnership and shared learning. This is demonstrated with a broad range of countries including Vietnam, where there are concerns, but also an opportunity to work together on Vietnam’s constructive response to their Universal Periodic Review recommendations. We stand ready to support them, and other partners such as Algeria, another focus country, in realising our objectives on FoRB.

    The UK is privileged to have diverse diaspora communities including from India, Nigeria and Pakistan where we have much to share on FoRB and I look forward to strengthening my relationships on FoRB in these countries too.

    Our approach to FoRB is inextricably interwoven with our wider human rights efforts. For example in China, we raise our concerns at the highest levels. I will support these efforts, encouraging China to meet its international obligations on FoRB.

    And as I have said, respect for FoRB is vital to peaceful, strong societies. Religious intolerance and persecution can fuel instability and conflict. So it is right that our approach works to support those countries navigating the impact of conflict – past and present – to protect FoRB for all. This is why we will also focus on Syria,  Ukraine,  Afghanistan and Iraq.

    Our focus in seeking to journey with these 10 countries is an important stepping stone towards our overarching goal of a reduction in the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed.

    However, it is important to say that a more targeted approach does not limit us. Situations such as that in Eritrea and in Yemen are also on my mind, and I will be championing FoRB for all wherever and whenever I can. As Lord Collins has said, we will continue to do so, including through public and private advocacy for prisoners of conscience.

    We know that we cannot deliver change alone. This is why the third strand of our approach is to strengthen international coalitions for collective action. The UK is proud to be a member of the Article 18 Alliance and the International Contact Group on FoRB and it’s great to see many of our fellow members represented here today. The UK is committed to working with you to continue increasing the impact of these important groupings.

    Where FoRB is under attack, other rights are threatened too and vice versa. The fourth strand of our approach is, therefore, ensuring that FoRB considerations are mainstreamed throughout the FCDO’s work and the need for a holistic human rights approach understood. This means bolstering our efforts to increase awareness and understanding of FoRB within the organisation – today’s event, open to all staff, being a case in point.

    As well as ensuring that tools, training and research are available to staff, I will report annually on our work, including at the highest levels of government. By the end of tomorrow, I will have met with every FCDO Minister to discuss how we can collaborate to promote FoRB in their respective areas of responsibility.

    Finally, and I must confess a slight bias given my life before politics, perhaps most importantly, the fifth strand of our approach is stronger and wider engagement with civil society and human rights champions.

    From sharing information to fostering understanding and respect between different religion or belief communities on the ground, your engagement is central to the protection and promotion of FoRB.

    And I know that this can come at personal cost. I want to take this opportunity to underline that the UK stands with you in your work to defend FoRB for all.

    In closing I would like to refer to the Hebrew scriptures – what Christians call the Old Testament – which contain a book of wisdom called Proverbs.

    In Proverbs 31, we find an injunction which is a challenge to us all – wherever we call home, and whatever we believe – when it comes to championing Freedom of Religion or Belief for all, one which I will leave us with today:

    Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and  judge fairly: defend the rights of the poor and needy.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: $3M Awarded to Integrate EV Into the Grid

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $3 million has been awarded to three projects to advance technologies that can help integrate electric vehicles efficiently into the electric grid. The Governor has also made available $4 million to advance technologies that overcome data collection, transmission and operational challenges faced by utilities to manage electric vehicle (EV) charging. Together, these solutions will help to enhance grid flexibility, shift charging to accommodate energy demand, and lower charging costs for consumers.

    “New York is leading the way in building a smarter, more sustainable energy future,” Governor Hochul said. “By investing in innovative technologies that support EV charging and integration with the grid, we are strengthening our clean energy infrastructure to meet the demands of tomorrow. We are also improving grid resiliency while making it easier and more affordable for New Yorkers to drive electric.”

    The $3 million has been awarded to three projects through the Vehicle Grid Integration Program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), which provides funding for projects that are scalable and advance electric vehicle charging infrastructure through product development, technology demonstrations, or new business models. Technologies include bi-directional charging, energy storage, on-site energy generation, and EV managed charging.

    New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Investing in vehicle to grid integration is a game changer for utilities and consumers when it comes to balancing demand on the electric grid and these awarded companies have put forward innovative solutions to improve the way we achieve that balance. Advancing technologies that can shift when electric vehicle charging happens will open the door for future cost reductions, more renewable energy resources like wind and solar, increased grid flexibility and fewer infrastructure upgrades.”

    The awarded projects include:

    • Charging Platform Lamppost Conduit Interconnection: Voltpost was awarded $775,000 to develop lamppost EV charging in the New York City area, Capital Region, and Hudson Valley focusing on UL certification, retrofits, and plans to deploy at least ten additional Level 2 charging stations in New York State.
    • Demonstrating Statewide Implementations of Flexible Interconnections for Fleets: The Mobility House was awarded $867,000 to show how utility distribution capacity can be maximized with flexible interconnections to support electric school bus charging at a depot in Staten Island and a second location yet to be determined in New York State to pilot a method for fast charger deployment that decouples charger construction from electric grid development timelines.
    • Distribution-Optimized EV Managed Charging to Enhance Grid Flexibility: Weave Grid, Inc. was awarded nearly $1 million to control when EV managed charging will occur in the Orange and Rockland Utilities service area by using software and topology data to coordinate schedules and balance the energy load.

    Managed EV Funding
    Also announced today is $4 million in new funding for a competitive solicitation offered through NYSERDA’s Electric Vehicle Managed Charging program. Proposals are sought from researchers, developers and consultants, who individually or as a team, will develop or demonstrate technologies that can solve the data collection, data transmission and operational challenges faced by utilities when integrating electric vehicles, regardless of supplier, with the electric grid. Proposals must include behind-the-meter EV integrated solutions including the transfer of bi-directional data and utility control over charging, or both to study how these solutions can alleviate demand on the electric grid.

    The focus of this solicitation was identified by NYSERDA working with Avangrid, parent company of Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E) and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG), to provide data that will help inform future utility rate and program planning for EV managed charging.

    Proposals are due on September 16, 2025, by 3:00 p.m. ET. For more information on this funding opportunity please visit NYSERDA’s website.

    For more than fifty years, NYSERDA has been a trusted and objective resource for New Yorkers, taking on the critical role of energy planning and policy analysis, along with making investments that drive New York toward a more sustainable future. Today’s announcement builds on the success of NYSERDA’s Grid Modernization program, which since 2016 has awarded approximately $65 million to over 110 grid technology companies and research organizations for projects that improve low-cost high-accuracy grid sensors, modeling and simulation tools, and advanced engineering solutions. New York State’s investments in research, development, and commercialization support innovators accelerating the clean energy transition. NYSERDA’s Innovation and Research program is deploying approximately $1.2 billion over 15 years as direct research investments and commercialization support. To date, more than $800 million in investments have supported more than 700 companies and made nearly 300 products commercially available to individuals, businesses, and utilities.

    In addition, New York State is investing nearly $3 billion in electrifying its transportation sector and rapidly advancing measures that all new passenger cars and trucks sold, are zero emissions, along with all school buses being zero emissions the same year. There are a range of initiatives to grow access to EVs and improve clean transit for all New Yorkers including the Drive Clean Rebate, EV Make Ready, EVolve NY, the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program (NYTVIP), the New York School Bus Incentive Program, and the Direct Current Fast Charger Program.

    Funding for this initiative is through the Clean Energy Fund (CEF).

    New York State’s Climate Agenda
    New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Takes Action to Block Unlawful Termination of Environmental Justice Grant Program

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James co-led a coalition of 19 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for unlawfully terminating the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program. The grant program, created and funded by Congress through the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, is designed to provide critical support to communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and climate change. Attorney General James and the coalition argue EPA’s abrupt and unlawful termination of the program and cancellation of grants has already caused widespread harm across their states, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, and are urging the court to block the program termination while the lawsuit continues.

    “These climate and environmental justice grants are a lifeline for communities that have been historically left behind,” said Attorney General James. “From Buffalo to Far Rockaway, New Yorkers were counting on these funds to access clean energy, clean up air pollution, and prepare for climate disasters. When the federal government breaks its promises to our most vulnerable communities, the consequences can be devastating, even deadly. My office is fighting to ensure this grant program is restored so that New Yorkers are protected as we combat the climate crisis.”

    In the brief filed today in Appalachian Voices v. EPA, Attorney General James and the coalition emphasize that by terminating this grant program, the federal government is inflicting serious, lasting harm on vulnerable communities already grappling with disproportionate pollution burdens and the escalating effects of climate change. These communities, which are often low-income, communities of color, indigenous, or in rural areas, face overlapping environmental and public health crises. The attorneys general explain that these challenges have only been made worse by historical discriminatory policies, including racial segregation, redlining, and a systemic lack of investment in disadvantaged neighborhoods. These communities are under-resourced, have less access to infrastructure like clean drinking water and sanitation, and end up bearing the brunt of the burden from extreme weather disasters, since they are less equipped to recover from devastating events or easily adapt to a changing climate.

    In 2022, Congress created the grant program under the Inflation Reduction Act, mandating that EPA distribute $3 billion in funding specifically to help address these disparities. In New York alone, 22 grantees were awarded more than $70 million in funding to carry out projects to protect vulnerable residents from extreme heat, flooding, air pollution, and other environmental hazards. Another grantee, Fordham University in the Bronx, was awarded $50 million to provide as grants to community-based organizations in New York, as well as New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and eight Indigenous Nations, for environmental justice projects. Grantees, often in partnership with non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and city agencies, would use the funds to protect residents from extreme weather events in Albany, Rochester, and Buffalo; combat flooding and excess heat in the Bronx and Yonkers; protect the Rockaways from storm surges; and more.

    Now, the sudden termination of these grants has forced grantees to lay off staff, halt programming, and freeze hiring. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that EPA’s mass cancellation of the environmental and climate justice grant program violates clear congressional mandates and fundamental constitutional principles. Congress directed the EPA to distribute these funds using mandatory language in the Inflation Reduction Act, leaving the agency no discretion to unilaterally withdraw support. The attorneys general emphasize that the executive branch cannot override Congress’s appropriations decisions based on its own policy preferences, and that in doing so, the administration violated the U.S. Constitution.

    Attorney General James and the coalition are urging the court to grant the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and ensure that the environmental justice grants will remain available for the communities that so desperately need them.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this brief, which was co-led with Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Minister Peacock speech at the Giving and Impact Summit

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Minister Peacock speech at the Giving and Impact Summit

    Minister Peacock delivered a speech at the Giving and Impact Summit held at the London Stock Exchange.

    Good morning everyone. Thank you for that kind introduction.  It is great to be here with you this morning at the Giving and Impact summit. Thank you to Integra for organising this forum, to the London Stock Exchange for hosting us, and to everyone here today. Your presence here demonstrates your shared interest and belief in the power of philanthropy and impact investment to achieve social good. This Government shares this passion and recognises the vital role the Impact Economy can play in helping to drive stronger economic growth across the country, alongside our ambitious Plan for Change.  I intend to set out briefly today how we can work in partnership to achieve this. 

    A remarkable 15 billion pounds was donated to charities last year; of course we can go further.  I have seen this first hand in my own constituency of Barnsley South, quite a deprived area. Whether that be Barnsley Hospice that raises £3.6 million per year and relies on donations to care for people and their families at the most difficult time of their lives or Barnsley Youth Choir which receives donations of over £300,000 annually, they focus on advancing musical education for young people in Barnsley and surrounding areas, and in their short existence have become one of the world’s leading youth choirs.

    Charitable giving and philanthropic investment builds on the British spirit of generosity that was outlined in the intro. Extending to our impact investment market, which has grown significantly over the past decade and leads the way in Europe. This growing market is worth over 76 billion pounds, demonstrates people’s strong desire for a connection between their investments and tangible social impact.  Now as the Minister responsible for philanthropy and the Impact Economy, I have seen first-hand the remarkable work being done in this area and the vast potential for increasing funds invested in public good. It was a real pleasure and a real eye opener to visit Made-in-Stoke last year for Giving Tuesday, an initiative focused on building a community of individuals eager to give back to Stoke. 

    That brings me onto government, and the important role we play in creating an ecosystem that stimulates increased investment and delivers for communities up and down the country. The most pressing social and environmental challenges facing the nation require us to work together, with different forms of capital, to achieve lasting change. We want to work more closely with all of you here today, to tackle these challenges and boost inclusive  growth. That is why we established the Social Impact Investment Advisory Group earlier this year. Both myself and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury were really pleased to attend its first meeting. This group of experts brings together individuals from across the impact investment, philanthropy and civil society sectors, and will provide recommendations later this year on how the government can effectively mobilise more social impact capital. The group has also been advising on the Social Impact Investment Vehicle announced at the Autumn Budget, to support delivery of the Government’s top priorities and to tackle those complex social problems. The advisory group is the first step in our commitment to establishing a stronger, and more ambitious, partnership with Impact Economy. We will continue to build on this, as our recently published Industrial Strategy demonstrates. This sets out our clear intention to deepen collaboration with the Impact Economy to deliver inclusive and sustainable growth, and in particular partner with the philanthropy sector. 

    I have heard from many of you that more can be done to grow philanthropic investment in this country. That is why, earlier this year, I outlined my three priorities to support this: 

    Firstly, the Government wants to connect philanthropic investment with the places that need it most – through place-based philanthropy. The Secretary of State has committed to the development of a place-based philanthropy strategy. This will set out a vision for how we can harness philanthropy to drive economic growth and regenerate  our communities. 

    Second,  we want to unlock extra philanthropic investment by making it as easy as possible for philanthropists to give more, and for would-be philanthropists to give for the first time.

    And finally, we want to partner with civil society, communities, donors and businesses to celebrate a culture of giving. 

    Let me end today by saying that this Government acknowledges the immense contribution social investors, philanthropists, and businesses make, and we want to see this go further.  Thank you all once again for inviting me to join you today, and I hope the rest of the summit is a success.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbU Enters Top 5 Russian Universities According to Forbes Education | Saint Petersburg State University

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    In 2025, the ranking included 564 universities with Russian accreditation, entitled to issue state diplomas. Universities were assessed based on five key indicators: quality of networking, global reputation, authority among employers, development of the academic environment, and the Forbes factor. The calculations used data from monitoring the activities of higher education institutions by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia in 2024 and the results of a survey of Russian companies with the highest ESG indicators.

    The full Forbes rating “Best Russian Universities – 2025” is available here Here.

    With a score of 61.49 points, Saint Petersburg State University took fifth place in the ranking, ahead of such universities as the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the National Research University ITMO, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation and others.

    The authors awarded St Petersburg University 19.85 points in the Networking category, while employers rated the level of trust in the quality of specialist training at 20.77 points. The University scored another 8.63 points in the International Recognition metric due to its regular inclusion in global and subject rankings. According to the authors of the rating, the quality of the academic environment formed at St Petersburg University deserves 8.24 points out of 10 possible. In the Forbes Factor category, which takes into account the number of university graduates on the list of Russian billionaires in 2025, St Petersburg University scored 4 out of 5 points.

    The top lines of the ranking are occupied by universities with the largest endowments, which include the endowment management fund “Development of St. Petersburg State University”. In 2024, the value of its net assets increased to 1.6 billion rubles. Thanks to contributions from donors, the fund supports students and postgraduates who have achieved particular success in their academic and research activities. Endowment fund scholarships are paid to university athletes, and large grants are provided to teams that win the annual competition of interdisciplinary innovative projects “Start-up St. Petersburg State University”. Funding is allocated for events in the fields of culture, science and education. A full list of programs is presented on the website of the St. Petersburg State University Endowment Fund.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Moscow pays special attention to cooperation with China – Deputy Mayor of Moscow M. Liksutov

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Moscow, July 8 /Xinhua/ — Moscow pays special attention to cooperation with China in all areas, Deputy Mayor of Moscow, head of the Moscow Department of Transport and Development of Road Transport Infrastructure Maxim Liksutov said in an interview with Xinhua the other day.

    “China is one of Russia’s key strategic partners, so Moscow pays special attention to cooperation with China in all areas,” he emphasized.

    As M. Liksutov noted, the Russian capital and China are cooperating in the development of transport. Moscow authorities are closely studying the Chinese experience in creating high-speed highways within the country. The experience of developing subways in Chinese cities is also important for Moscow. “In addition, we are inspired by the incredible scale of development of ground-based urban electric transport in the PRC,” the capital official said, adding that the city of Shenzhen (Guangdong Province, South China) serves as an example for Moscow, where since 2017 only electric buses have been used in urban transport.

    According to the Deputy Mayor of Moscow, an important area of cooperation with China is the development of intelligent transport systems, including unmanned technologies. Thus, in 2023, Beijing became one of Moscow’s first international partners within the framework of the UrbanTransportData analytical platform, designed to collect, analyze, visualize and publish transport indicators.

    M. Liksutov reported on regular contacts between representatives of the Moscow transport complex and colleagues from the largest cities of China. In June last year, during the visit of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to Beijing, an agreement was reached to create a joint working group on transport, which has already held two meetings.

    In addition to transport, as the Xinhua source noted, Moscow actively cooperates with China in the sphere of trade. M. Liksutov cited data according to which the Russian capital accounts for more than 42 percent of the structure of the all-Russian trade turnover with China. The greatest demand is for industrial goods: radio navigation equipment, pumping equipment, electric motors and generators, carbon fibers and much more. “In addition, the residents of China highly value food products produced in Moscow. For example, bread, confectionery, cookies, ice cream, carbonated drinks and wheat flour,” the vice-mayor added.

    He said that the Mosprom center has been operating to support export-oriented capital companies since 2019. The center’s specialists analyze target markets for manufacturers to determine the most effective strategy for entering them, help with finding foreign counterparties, conducting negotiations with potential buyers abroad, and also organize the participation of Moscow companies in international exhibitions and business missions.

    M. Liksutov invited Chinese companies to the Russian capital. “We are interested in the work of Chinese companies in Moscow, especially in the areas of microelectronics, electric transport, robotics, pharmaceuticals, space research, unmanned transport and telecommunications. The partnership may concern both the establishment of trade and economic cooperation, and the localization of production or the development of investment projects,” he explained, assuring that the Moscow authorities will provide the necessary support measures to Chinese partners. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • At least eight killed and dozens missing after floods on Nepal-China border

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At least eight people were killed and over two dozen were missing after the Bhote Koshi River flooded, washing away the “Friendship Bridge” that links China and Nepal, officials said on Tuesday.

    There had been no heavy rainfall in the immediate area of the river in the preceding 24 hours, but weather forecasting experts said the flood might have been the result of an overflowing glacial lake in Tibet, where torrential rain had fallen.

    Police had recovered eight bodies, none of whom had been identified so far, Nepal Police spokesperson Binod Ghimire told Reuters.

    He said 57 people were rescued. Search and rescue operations were continuing, Nepali Army spokesperson Raja Ram Basnet said.

    At least 20 people were missing in Nepal, while China’s official Xinhua news agency said 11 people were unaccounted for on the Chinese side of the mountainous border region.

    Trade between Nepal and China was disrupted because of the bridge’s destruction, officials said.

    In Nepal, the missing included six Chinese workers and three police personnel, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said on X.

    The missing Chinese nationals were working at the Inland Container Depot being constructed with Chinese assistance about 80 km (50 miles) north of capital Kathmandu, said Arjun Paudel, a senior administrative official of Rasuwa district.

    “The river also swept away some containers with goods imported from China… There is a big loss (of property) and we are collecting details,” he told Reuters.

    China has been increasing its investment in Nepal in recent years in domains including roads, power plants, and hospitals.

    The Asian giant has been battered by heavy rain and flash floods over the last few days that have left a trail of destruction, and is bracing for a tropical storm this week.

    Nepal’s weather forecasting department said it was working with Sentinel Asia – an international initiative that uses space-based technology to support disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region – to determine the cause of the flooding.

    In Pakistan, at least 79 people, including 38 children, have died in floods and rain-related incidents, including landslides and house collapses, since June 26, its National Disaster Management Authority said on Tuesday.

    The authority issued fresh alerts for flash flooding and glacial lake outbursts in the northern and northwestern provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing “a significant rise in temperatures and… an upcoming weather system.”

    (Reuters)

  • NCSC submits 2023-24 report to President Murmu, recommends steps for SC welfare

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Tuesday submitted its Annual Report for 2023–24 to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

    The delegation was led by NCSC Chairman Kishor Makwana, along with Members Love Kush Kumar and Vaddepalli Ramchander, and Secretary Gudey Srinivas, IAS.

    As mandated under Article 338 of the Constitution, the Commission presents an annual report to the President on the status of Constitutional safeguards for Scheduled Castes. The report includes recommendations for measures that the union and state governments should take to protect, uplift and promote the welfare and socio-economic development of the SC communities.

    The report provides a detailed review of the implementation of Constitutional provisions, focusing on issues such as atrocities and crimes against Scheduled Castes. It also covers findings from reviews, field visits and consultations with central and state governments on various welfare schemes and development programmes.

    The Commission has made several recommendations to strengthen institutional accountability, ensure justice and advance the overall empowerment of Scheduled Castes.

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the General Assembly on the Observance of the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The world comes together in solidarity and reflection on this 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica – the worst atrocity on European soil since the Second World War.

    In July 1995, more than 8,000 Bosnian men and boys were systematically separated from their families, executed, and buried in mass graves.

    Thousands of women, children and older persons were forcibly displaced.

    An entire generation was lost.

    The intention was the elimination of Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica.

    Today, we remember and honour the victims.

    We pay tribute to the strength, dignity and courage of the survivors and families.

    And we acknowledge hard truths. 

    Thirty years ago, the United Nations and the world failed the people of Srebrenica.

    This collective failure was not an accident of history.

    It was the result of policies, propaganda, and international indifference.

    Since then, the survivors, the families of victims, in particular the “Mothers of Srebrenica”, have shown extraordinary courage in their pursuit of truth and justice.

    They are helping to raise new generations with love, not hate.

    Their unwavering resolve and bravery – facing the perpetrators again and again – have been vital to the determination made by the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, and the International Court of Justice:

    The determination that the acts committed at Srebrenica in 1995 constituted genocide.

    The Tribunal made clear that criminal responsibility for the crime of genocide under international law is individualized.

    It cannot be attributed to any ethnic, religious or other group or community as a whole.

    And the International Court of Justice made clear that States have a clear obligation to prevent genocide.

    We must uphold and preserve these judicially established findings;

    And we must ensure the voices of Srebrenica survivors continue to be heard – countering denial, distortion and revisionism.

    Only by recognizing the suffering of all victims can we build mutual understanding, trust, and lasting peace.

    Every person in Bosnia and Herzegovina deserves a future free from the shadows of conflict and division.

    Today, as we remember, we must also confront reality.

    After Srebrenica, once again, the world said “Never Again”.

    Yet, hate speech is on the rise again – fueling discrimination, extremism, and violence.

    We see the glorification of war criminals again.

    We see the same dangerous currents that once led to atrocity crimes again.

    Dear friends, we cannot ignore these warning signs.

    I call on every Member State to fulfil their shared responsibility:

    To uphold the lessons of Srebrenica, to preserve historical truth, and to protect human dignity.

    Let us confront denial with truth – and impunity with justice;

    And let us honour our obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

    In memory of the victims;

    In solidarity with the survivors and their loved ones;

    And in the name of our shared humanity.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Procurement Ombud Proposes 5 Solutions to Solve Federal Procurement Issues

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Ottawa, Ontario – July 8, 2025

    In his new Knowledge Deepening and Sharing report, the Procurement Ombud outlines 5 key solutions to address long-standing systemic issues in federal procurement. These issues, have persisted for decades and continue to undermine the efficiency of the system and the core principles of fairness, openness, and transparency.

    These systemic issues, such as overly complex solicitation processes, unclear accountabilities, and fragmented rules, have been raised by Parliamentarians, procurement experts, and Canadian businesses year after year, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change.

    In consultation with federal procurement experts and stakeholders, the Procurement Ombud has identified 5 foundational changes for improving the system.

    The top 5 foundational changes proposed by the Ombud are: 

    1. The establishment of a federal Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) to ensure effective oversight
    2.  The creation of a government-wide vendor performance management (VPM) system to enhance supplier accountability
    3. The development of one universally applicable set of federal procurement rules to simplify the overly complex federal procurement landscape for both suppliers and procurement professionals
    4. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) advancements to modernize federal procurement tools and systems
    5. The establishment of a framework for procurement data collection to increase the transparency of federal procurements

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hong Kong-Based Company Agrees to Pay $876,000 to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Violations

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Schaefer Systems International Ltd. (SSI) has agreed to pay $876,000 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations relating to the payment of a prohibited finder’s fee in connection with the award of an Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) contract to supply a pallet racking system for a warehouse at a U.S. military base in South Korea. SSI markets and sells warehouse logistics systems and provides related services throughout Asia. SSI disclosed the prohibited payment to the government following an internal compliance review and internal investigation.

    The settlement resolves allegations that prior to the award of the AAFES contract in 2018, SSI falsely certified its compliance with a procurement integrity provision limiting the payment of commissions to certain bona fide employees and agencies. Unbeknownst to AAFES, SSI intended to pay a finder’s fee to a South Korean national who had informed SSI of the potential contracting opportunity and helped secure the contract.

    “Those who do business with the government must do so fairly and honestly,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable contractors that fail to follow procurement rules, but we will also give credit to those who disclose their wrongdoing, take appropriate remedial actions, and meaningfully cooperate with the government’s investigation.”      

    “Department of Defense contractors have a duty to uphold their contractual obligations and deliver honest value to the American taxpayer,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Transnational Operations Field Office. “This civil settlement demonstrates that illicit payment schemes and kickbacks will not be tolerated. The dedicated professionals of DCIS will work tirelessly to hold those who violate the public trust accountable.”

    In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that SSI took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperating with the government. Following an internal compliance review and independent investigation, SSI promptly disclosed to the government the prohibited payment. SSI also provided the government with a detailed and thorough written disclosure and cooperated with the government throughout its investigation.

    The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and DCIS.

    Fraud Section Senior Trial Counsel Andrew A. Steinberg handled the matter.

    The claims resolved by the United States in the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Prison Guard Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing Inmates

    Source: US FBI

    HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Mikael Salvador Rivera, 48, of Kapolei, Hawaii, was sentenced today in federal court by Senior U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright to 96 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for sexual abuse of wards.

    Rivera was a correctional officer at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu from approximately 2014 to 2018. As part of his prior guilty plea in March 2025, Rivera admitted that while on duty as a correctional officer, he ordered an inmate to participate in multiple sexual acts to which she did not consent and engaged in sexually abusive conduct with two additional inmates under his supervision. According to information provided to the Court, Rivera would leave cell doors unlocked so that he could enter or escort his victims out undetected. Rivera’s guilty plea came after he initially fled on the eve of trial, leading law enforcement on a days-long manhunt across Oahu.

    At sentencing, Judge Seabright imposed an upward variance from the advisory Sentencing Guidelines range, stating that with respect to the offense conduct, “there is nothing in mitigation, nothing I see but a gross abuse of Mr. Rivera’s position of authority within FDC, and a gross abuse of that power in sexually abusing these three inmates over one calendar year.” Judge Seabright went on to state, “His conduct was the exact opposite of what was intended. You were supposed to help, to rehabilitate those in your care. Instead, you preyed on them. You became a predator to them.” 

    “Correctional officers serve an invaluable role in our justice system, working in dangerous environments where they are entrusted to ensure order in our detention facilities and the safety of our inmates. While nearly all federal correctional officers are hardworking, ethical, and honest, there are those very few who abuse their power over inmates. Their conduct erodes public faith in our institutions and justice system, and we must accordingly seek to investigate, prosecute, and punish those who abuse vulnerable inmates in federal custody. Those who violate the public trust will experience the full force of law and justice in the District of Hawaii,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Today’s lengthy sentence serves as a warning that sexual misconduct by federal correctional officers will be investigated, prosecuted, and severely punished.”

    “Sexual abuse of individuals in custody by federal correctional officers is a profound breach of public trust. The Office of the Inspector General is committed to ensuring that those who violate that trust are held accountable for abusing their authority,” said Anne Walsh, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) Western Region.

    “Not only did Mikael Rivera abuse the power of his position to commit horrific acts of sexual violence and silence his victims, but his actions undermined the efforts of all correctional officers,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Today’s sentence sends the clear message that the FBI will investigate and hold accountable anyone who violates federal law, regardless of their position.”

    The investigation was conducted by the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Ayabe for the District of Hawaii and Trial Attorney Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from former PIN Deputy Chiefs Jennifer Clarke and Marco Palmieri.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Greenup County Man Sentenced for Receiving Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    ASHLAND, Ky. – A Flatwoods, Ky., man, Geoffrey Potts, 25, was sentenced on Monday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 114 months in prison, for receiving child pornography. 

    According to his plea agreement, in March 2024, law enforcement received information that a user was downloading child pornography, and linked the user’s IP address with Potts’ residence. Law enforcement searched Potts’ cellphone and found numerous images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct that had been downloaded via the internet. In total, over 219 images and 45 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were located on Potts’ cellphone. 

    Under federal law, Potts must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years. 

    Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Olivia Olson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and W. Todd Kelley, Chief of the Ashland Police Department, jointly announced the sentence.

    The investigation was conducted by the FBI, KSP, and Ashland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

     

    – END –

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 34 Years for Five Armed Robberies

    Source: US FBI

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah. E. Pitlyk on Thursday sentenced a man who committed five armed robberies in Missouri and Illinois in 2023 to 34 years in prison.

    Ronald O. Perkins, 30, of Black Jack, Missouri, was armed with a handgun, fired multiple shots during one of the robberies and often banged the gun on the counter while demanding money or pointed it at employees, according to evidence and testimony at Perkins’ trial in April.

    Perkins first robbed a gas station and convenience store on Riverview Drive in St. Louis on Sept. 8, 2023. He demanded money and then grabbed cash out of the register. He fired several shots when an employee tried to intervene.

    On Nov. 8, 2023, Perkins robbed a gas station on Clayton Road in Richmond Heights, stealing cash and a pack of cigarettes.

    Less than two hours later, he robbed a 7-Eleven on Hoffmeister Avenue in St. Louis County, stealing cash.

    Four days later, he robbed a gas station on Fee Fee Road in St. Louis County.

    Five days after that, on Nov. 17, 2023, he robbed a liquor store on St. Louis Road in Collinsville, Illinois, again stealing money from the register.

    At trial, jurors saw physical and electronic evidence and surveillance video that showed Perkins was responsible for all five robberies. Officers also recovered the gun that was a ballistic match to the firearm used in the first robbery from Perkins’ pants.

    In court Thursday, Judge Pitlyk called the evidence “overwhelming.”

    “Use of a firearm during a crime of violence can subject you to a sentence of seven years in prison consecutive to any other charge. In Ronald Perkins’ case, that meant he faced at least 31 years in prison,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Drake. “It’s a very old cliché, but violent crime really does not pay. Perkins fired multiple shots during one of the robberies and held employees at gunpoint. He netted a total of $1,650 from five robberies that left nine innocent employees and two customers terrified and mentally scarred. All of that for what works out to be just pennies for each day that he will spend in prison.”

    Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Perkins guilty of four counts of robbery, one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony.

    The St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Collinsville Police Department, the Richmond Heights Police Department, the Columbia (Illinois) Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Tiffany Becker prosecuted the case.

    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 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.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Waterloo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

    Source: US FBI

    A Waterloo man who was responsible for distributing over thirteen pounds of ice methamphetamine was sentenced on July 2, 2025, to more than nineteen years in federal prison.

    Matthew James Wessels, age 44, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 23, 2024, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after a prior conviction for a serious drug felony. 

    In a plea agreement, Wessels admitted that during the summer of 2024, after being released from federal prison for a previous controlled substance conviction, he conspired with several others to import ice methamphetamine and then distribute the methamphetamine in Waterloo and the surrounding area.  On three separate occasions, Wessels distributed ice methamphetamine to an undercover police officer.  On another occasion, officers found him in possession of over three pounds of ice methamphetamine.  In total, Wessels was personally responsible for distributing over thirteen pounds of ice methamphetamine. 

    Wessels was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams.  Wessels was sentenced to 234 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

    The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jared Manternach and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Jones County Sheriff’s Department; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

    Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.

    The case file number is 24-CR-2035.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Oregon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    ALEXANDRIA, La. – Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced that Jon Scot Taylor, 69, of Portland, Oregon, has been sentenced for distribution of child pornography.  Taylor was sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 180 months (15 years) in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release following his release from prison.

    In August of 2023, agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) began communicating in an undercover capacity in an online chat forum with a user who was later determined to be Taylor. The agent was posing as a 13-year-old girl. Their conversations moved from the chat forum to text messaging. Throughout their conversations which continued through February 2024, Taylor asked the individual, who he believed was a 13-year-old girl, to send him sexually explicit images of herself. In the course of their communication, Taylor also sent the person he believed was a 13-year-old girl some child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that depicted other 12 or 13-year-old children. 

    At the guilty plea hearing, Taylor admitted to knowingly distributing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and that these visual depictions were sent from him in the State of Oregon to the Western District of Louisiana using interstate or foreign commerce by means of the computer. Taylor pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of child pornography.

    The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy.

    This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Man Charged with Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor

    Source: US FBI

    WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marvin Isaac Dagoc, age 27, of Lakeside, California, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.

    According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that from January to March 2025, Dagoc enticed a minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, traveled to Lycoming County to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in March of 2025, and produced child pornography on March 17, 2025.

    The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case.

    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 Attorneys’ 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.usdoj.gov/psc.

    The maximum penalty under federal law for the offense is up to life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

    Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Cancellations at Canadian film festivals raise questions about accountability

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Dorit Naaman, Alliance Atlantis Professor of Film and Media, Queen’s University, Ontario

    Film festivals are unique cultural institutions, spaces to see diverse films by local and global filmmakers and an important market for distributors. These films are often difficult to see, or even know about, outside of festival circuits.

    Festivals are also answerable to funders and to different stakeholders’ interests. Cancellations of planned films raise questions about festivals’ roles and accountability to community groups who find certain films objectionable, the wider public, politicians, festival sponsors, audiences, filmmakers and the films themselves.

    In September 2024, The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) faced a backlash from pro-Ukrainian groups — and former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent — when the documentary Russians at War was included in the program.



    Read more:
    ‘Russians at War’ documentary: From the Crimean to the Iraq War, soldier images pose questions about propaganda

    The Ukrainian Canadian Congress and other advocates called on TIFF to cancel the film, directed by Russian Canadian Anastasia Trofimova, which they accused of being Russian propaganda.

    TIFF did cancel festival screenings after it was “made aware of significant threats to festival operations and public safety,” but once the festival was over, showed Russians at the TIFF Lightbox Theatre.

    In November, the Montréal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) cancelled the Canadian premiere of Rule of Stone, directed by Israeli Canadian director Danae Elon. As a film and media professor, I supervised Elon’s research for the film while she pursued a master’s degree at Queen’s University.

    RIDM acknowledged Elon’s “personal commitment to criticizing and questioning the state of Israel” through her story about the stone that, by Israeli law, has to be used on the exterior of every new building in Jerusalem.

    In the film, Elon examines how, in post-1967 Jerusalem, “architecture and stone are the main weapons in a silent, but extraordinarily effective colonization and dispossession process” of Palestinians.

    As a documentarist and a researcher in Israeli and Palestinian media representations of fighters, I have analyzed both films and followed the controversies. Each focuses on contemporary political issues relevant to our understanding of current affairs.

    While the reasons for the cancellations are different, in both cases the festivals responded to pressures from community groups, placing the public right to a robust debate at the festival and beyond as secondary.

    ‘Russians at War’

    Director Anastasia Trifamova embedded herself in a Russian supply unit, and later a medical team, eventually making her way to the front lines in occupied Ukraine.

    Trifamova comes across as a naive filmmaker, using an observational, non-judgmental form of filmmaking common in 21st-century war documentaries, as seen in films like Armadillo and Restrepo (respectively following Danish and U.S. troops in Afghanistan).

    As noted by TIFF, Russians was “an official Canada-France co-production with funding from several Canadian agencies,” and Trifamova said she did not seek or receive official permission from the Russian army to film.

    The film documents the machination of war, where soldiers are both perpetrators of violence and its victims. It humanizes the soldiers, which understandably can be upsetting to Ukrainian and pro-Ukrainian publics. But should emotions of one group, outraged and incensed as they may be, prevent the public from having the difficult conversations promoted by the film?

    Early in the film, Trifamova confronts the soldiers about why they are fighting and they respond with Russian propaganda (fighting Nazism, defending the borders).

    Later, soldiers approach Trifamova — on camera — to express doubts about the justification of the war and their presence in Ukraine. The film provides an unflattering view of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, emphasizing the futility of the war and the incredible toll on soldiers and civilians (including some Ukrainian civilians). Russian troops appear untrained and poorly equipped to fight in chaotically managed battles.

    Like Armadillo and Restrepo, Russians at War represents the soldiers without judgment and contributes to necessary conversations about war. In my analysis, while Trifamova refrains — in her sporadic voice-over — from condemning the war outright, it is difficult to read the film as Russian propaganda.

    While TIFF cited security concerns as the reason for cancellation, security was in place for another film that attracted controversy, Bliss.

    A cancellation from such an established festival likely has an effect on how a film is able to circulate. For example, TVO, one of the funders of Russians at War, cancelled its scheduled broadcast days after the TIFF cancellation.

    ‘Rule of Stone’

    Rule of Stone, as noted by RDIM, “critically examines the colonialist project of East Jerusalem following its conquest by Israeli forces in 1967.”

    The title references a colonial bylaw to clad building with stone, first introduced by the British, which still exists today.

    The film, which examines architecture’s role in creating modern Jerusalem, is led by Elon’s voice-over. It mixes her memories of growing up in 1970s Jerusalem and her reckoning with the “frenzy of building,” which included projects by architect Moshe Safdie, a citizen of Israel, Canada and the United States. Elon recounts that her father, journalist and author Amos Elon, was a close friend of Safdie, as well as legendary Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kolek.

    Safdie is among the Israeli architects, architectural historians and planners who Elon interviews. The expansion of Jewish neighbourhoods is contrasted with the restrictions on and disposession of Palestinians in Jerusalem. Multiple scenes show the demolition of Palestinian homes or the aftermath. In intervwoven segments, Izzat Ziadah, a Palestinian stonemason who lives in a stone quarry, gives a tour of what is left of his destroyed home.

    Viewers hear how the planning, expansion and building of Jewish neighbourhoods, post-1967, were designed to evoke biblical times. As architectural historian Zvi Efrat notes, the new neighbourhoods look like, or attempt to look like, they were there forever.

    ‘Rule of Stone’ trailer.

    As reported by La Presse, the RIDM cancellation came after the festival received information about the documentary’s partial Israeli financing, something that “embarrassed” them with some of the festival’s partners. Funding for the development of the film came from the Makor Foundation for Israeli Films, which receives support from Israel’s Ministry of Culture and Sport.

    Two organizations, the Palestinian Film Institute and Regards Palestiniens, opposed the film’s showing on the basis of their commitment to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

    In the organizations’ logic, Israel state funding means a film should be subject to boycott as “PACBI specifically targets Israeli institutional funding in the arts which serves to culturally whitewash and legitimize the Israeli state.”

    In my view, this position differs from the PACBI guidelines, which state:

    “As a general overriding rule, Israeli cultural institutions, unless proven otherwise, are complicit in maintaining the Israeli occupation and denial of basic Palestinian rights, whether through their silence or actual involvement in justifying, whitewashing or otherwise deliberately diverting attention from Israel’s violations of international law and human rights.”

    Makor should be exempted since it regularly funds films that draw attention to Israel’s violations of Palestinian human rights. In 2024 alone, the list includes The Governor, The Village League and Death in Um al hiran.

    RIDM’s website does not disclose support for a boycott. In the end, RIDM announced that Elon withdrew her film. She stated: “Screening my film at RIDM does not serve the long-term purpose of the festival, nor is it possible now to address the nuances in our common fight for justice for Palestine. I am deeply saddened and distressed by [what] has brought it to this point.”

    To date, the film has not found a cinema in Montréal willing to screen it.

    Provoking important conversations

    The two festivals’ mission statements promise high-quality films that transform or renew audiences’ relationships to the world.

    It is clear why programmers chose both films, since they’re cinematically innovative and provoke important conversations.

    However, both festivals silenced these films and signalled to other filmmakers that these festivals are not brave spaces to have difficult and necessary conversations.

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

    – ref. Cancellations at Canadian film festivals raise questions about accountability – https://theconversation.com/cancellations-at-canadian-film-festivals-raise-questions-about-accountability-250892

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Nearly two-thirds of voters think Starmer doesn’t respect them – new poll

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Marc Stears, Director of UCL Policy Lab and Professor of Political Science, UCL

    Simon Dawson/Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    Exhausted from a long campaign but buoyed by an extraordinary victory, Keir Starmer stood on the steps of Downing Street just over one year ago to deliver his victory speech. “Your government,” the new prime minister said, “should treat every single person in this country with respect.”

    This message of respect resonated strongly in the year leading up to the campaign, coming as close as anything to providing a central argument to Labour’s case for government. And, according to polling and focus groups that my team at UCL Policy Lab designed along with polling company More in Common, it seemed to work.

    As our research at the time showed, voters felt that “respecting ordinary people” was the most important attribute that any politician could have, more important than having ideas for the future, managing effectively or having real experience. And they thought Starmer was the leader who displayed that respect most.

    A year later, the picture looks quite different. In new polling, we asked a representative sample of over 7,000 people to evaluate the government one year on. On respect, the judgement has not been good.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    During the general election campaign, 41% of the electorate said that they believed that Starmer “respected people like them”. One year on, that stands at only 24%. At the same time, the number who say that he does not respect them has risen from 32% to 63%. Starmer is now outstripped on that question by Nigel Farage – 33% say the Reform UK leader respects people like them.

    Losing support

    This view has had crucial political consequences. Of those who voted for Labour in the general election, only 60% of our respondents say they would vote for the party in an election held tomorrow.

    And that is not because some other political party is suddenly swooping in for their supporters. Labour’s voters are defecting in a host of different directions: 11% say they would vote Reform; 8% would vote Liberal Democrat; 4% would vote Green and 4% would vote Conservative. A further one in ten say they simply don’t know how they would vote.

    Labour’s losses have been most dramatic among their first-time voters. Of those who voted for Labour in 2024 but not in any other general election since 2010, barely a third still support the party, while a fifth would vote for Reform UK.

    These political failures, our report contends, are directly related to the declining sense of respect. The top reason voters gave for turning away from Labour are the broken promises and U-turns made by Labour in government, followed by the party’s failure to reduce the cost of living and changes to the winter fuel payment.

    The idea of “respect” being key to the public’s sense of whether a government is on their side or not has been growing for many years now, both in academia and in politics itself. Since at least the 2007/8 financial crisis there has been a sense that large swathes of the public feel neglected, overlooked and even disdained by those who govern them.

    When people talk about wanting to see “change” in Britain, this is often what they mean. It was a theme I touched on recently in two books, Out of the Ordinary and, with my co-author Tom Baldwin, England.

    Just over a year ago, a happier Starmer delivers his victory speech.
    Shutterstock

    But respect is not just an abstract idea. People appear to judge whether they are respected by those who govern them or not primarily on the basis of whether the government stands up for them against powerful vested interests.

    Our earlier research demonstrated that there is a widespread sense among the British public that certain groups have had it too easy for too long. This is either because they have been able to intimidate the government, or because government ministers and advisers have themselves been recruited from among these groups.

    In our new report, therefore, we see that the new government’s most popular act was their willingness to raise the minimum wage by £1,400 in April, against the objections of some in business who suggested that such a move was too burdensome on them.

    Changes to the winter fuel allowance and proposed changes to the disability benefits system, on the other hand, registered poorly. They suggest that the interests of ordinary and vulnerable people count for too little in decision-making.

    These judgements currently shape the mood of the country and probably top the list of issues that the government now needs to address. There is still time for the government to rebuild its appeal, of course. Indeed, our respondents who said they would vote for Labour said they would do so because the party needs more time to fix the problems they inherited.

    But as it seeks to do so, voters will want to know who this government stands for. Whose interests does it put first? What kind of people does it respect?

    Much of the electorate thought they knew the answer to these questions one year ago. Now they’re not so sure.

    Marc Stears directs the UCL Policy Lab, a non-partisan think tank based at University College London. He was previously chief speechwriter to the UK Labour Party.

    – ref. Nearly two-thirds of voters think Starmer doesn’t respect them – new poll – https://theconversation.com/nearly-two-thirds-of-voters-think-starmer-doesnt-respect-them-new-poll-260606

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: New therapy teplizumab could delay type 1 diabetes by years – if caught early

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Oram, Professor of Diabetes and Nephrology, University of Exeter

    Dorde Krstic/Shutterstock.com

    For more than a century, type 1 diabetes has meant one thing: a lifetime administering insulin. But for the first time, science is breaking that paradigm – not by managing the disease, but by intercepting it before symptoms even appear.

    As the first patients in the UK begin receiving the groundbreaking new therapy, teplizumab, we are developing ways to identify who might benefit from a drug that only works if given before any symptoms appear. At the Royal Devon NHS, we are currently treating the first UK adult, Hannah Robinson, who was found to have early type 1 diabetes by chance during routine pregnancy screening.

    About 10% of people with diabetes have type 1, while the remaining 90% have type 2, a condition linked to lifestyle factors where insulin is still produced but does not work properly. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that leads to complete loss of insulin production from the pancreas. Without insulin, blood sugar levels rise dangerously, increasing the risk of blindness, kidney failure and early death.

    Although type 1 is often thought of as a disease of childhood, research from the University of Exeter has highlighted that more than half of all new cases occur in adults.

    For millions around the world living with type 1 diabetes, treatment to keep blood sugar in check means lifelong daily insulin. However, using insulin comes with its own risks.

    If blood sugar drops too low, it can cause hypoglycaemia, or “hypos”, which in severe cases may lead to seizures or even death. It is no surprise that constantly balancing between high and low blood sugars takes a heavy toll on both physical and mental health. During her pregnancy, Robinson needed insulin and saw firsthand how “life completely revolves around balancing your blood glucose”.

    Teplizumab offers a completely different approach. Instead of simply replacing insulin, it targets the immune attack that causes type 1 diabetes.

    Our immune system is usually remarkably good at telling friend from foe, protecting us from infections and cancer while leaving our own organs alone. But sometimes, for reasons still not fully understood, this balance breaks down in a process known as autoimmunity. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas, destroying insulin-producing cells.

    Diabetes symptoms.

    Teplizumab works by retraining the immune system and dialling down the specific cells that target the pancreas. Studies show it can delay the disease and the need for insulin therapy by two to three years, with generally mild side-effects. For Robinson, who knows all too well from pregnancy and the full-time job that is living with type 1 diabetes, the possibility of a few extra years without insulin really mattered.

    The drug is already approved in the US and is under review for routine NHS use, although a few children and teenagers in the UK have also received it through special access programmes.

    Finding people early

    There is a catch. By the time people develop symptoms of type 1 diabetes, such as thirst, weight loss and fatigue, more than three-quarters of their insulin-producing capacity is already destroyed.

    For teplizumab and similar therapies to work, they need to be given before symptoms appear, while blood sugar levels are still normal. This means these treatments are not an option for people who already have established type 1 diabetes.

    So how do we find people at this early stage? Fortunately, it is possible to detect the beginnings of the autoimmune attack many years before symptoms show using simple blood tests that measure immune markers called pancreatic autoantibodies.

    Just a few drops from a finger prick can reveal whether the immune system has started to target the pancreas. Finding people early not only offers the chance to delay disease progression, it can also help avoid the life-threatening emergencies that sometimes come with a first diagnosis – such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

    With type 1 diabetes affecting roughly one in 200 people, there is still the question of who to test. Not everyone’s risk is the same. When we think of inherited diseases, we often imagine conditions caused by a single gene change, such as cystic fibrosis.

    Type 1 diabetes does have a genetic component, but it involves many different genes, each nudging a person’s risk up or down. Having genetic risk alone is not enough, with unknown environmental factors also needed to tip the balance.

    Nine in ten people who develop type 1 diabetes have no family history. While testing relatives of people with type 1 is a logical first step, research at the University of Exeter suggests that combining all these genetic factors into a single risk score could help predict who might develop the disease and identify babies who should be monitored more closely. This could become an important tool as we move towards wider genomic screening.

    It is still early days, but we are seeing a fundamental shift in how we approach type 1 diabetes. For more than a century, treatment has meant patients taking on the daily burden of replacing the insulin their bodies can no longer make. Now, the focus is turning to therapies that tackle the immune problem at its source, with the hope of stopping the disease before it fully develops and opening the door to an insulin-free future.

    Richard Oram has received research grants or contracts from Randox and Sanofi. He has also received royalties and license from Randox, consulting fees from Sanofi, Provention Bio, and Janssen and payment or honoraria from Sanofi and Novo Nordisk. He has served on data safety monitory board or advisory board for Sanofi.

    Nicholas Thomas serves on an advisory boards for Sanof (manafacturer of Teplizumab) guiding the technical delivery of therapy within the NHS. He is currently employed by Exeter University as an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow.

    – ref. New therapy teplizumab could delay type 1 diabetes by years – if caught early – https://theconversation.com/new-therapy-teplizumab-could-delay-type-1-diabetes-by-years-if-caught-early-259814

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Address by the President of France

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, will visit Parliament on Tuesday 8 July accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron.

    President Macron will address members of both Houses assembled in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords.

    The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, will give a welcome speech and the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, will respond to the President’s address.

    Photo: Karin Pozo/Senado República de Chile on Flickr.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qslvMBbk3vY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Address by the President of France

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, will visit Parliament on Tuesday 8 July accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron.

    President Macron will address members of both Houses assembled in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords.

    The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, will give a welcome speech and the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, will respond to the President’s address.

    Photo: Karin Pozo/Senado República de Chile on Flickr.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qslvMBbk3vY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bayeux Tapestry to go on display at the British Museum in 2026

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Bayeux Tapestry to go on display at the British Museum in 2026

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Macron agree a loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK

    • Tapestry will go on display at the British Museum in London with Sutton Hoo treasures and the Lewis chessmen loaned to France in return
    • Loan marks the first time the work will have been in the UK for more than 900 years

    UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce that the Bayeux Tapestry will come to the UK in 2026, opening access and providing education opportunities for millions of people.

    The loan, which will mark the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK in nearly 1,000 years, will be displayed in the The Sainsbury Exhibitions Gallery of the British Museum in London between September 2026 and July 2027.

    It is expected that the blockbuster exhibition, which will offer the chance to see the Tapestry up close for the first time on UK soil since its creation, will also boost London’s visitor economy.

    The 70-metre work, which is more than 900-year-old, depicts the 1066 Norman invasion and Battle of Hastings. The battle saw William the Conquerer take the English throne from Harald Godwinson and become the first Norman King of England. It is widely accepted to have been made in England during the 11th century and was likely to have been commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux. The Tapestry has been on display in various locations in France throughout its history, including most recently at the Bayeux Museum.

    In addition to the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry, the British Museum will loan the Sutton Hoo collection, the Lewis Chessmen and other treasures to France. The Sutton Hoo treasures, discovered as part of a seventh century Anglo-Saxon ship burial in Suffolk in 1939, provide remarkable insights into England from a time before the Norman Conquest. Museums in Normandy will host the Sutton Hoo treasures while they are in France.

    The British Museum is home to two million years of human history and culture and is one of the most-visited attractions in the world, attracting more than 6 million visitors in 2024.

    The announcement will be made by the UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and French Culture Minister Rachida Dati later today as part of the State visit to the UK by President Macron and Madame Macron.

    Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

    The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most iconic pieces of art ever produced in the UK and I am delighted that we will be able to welcome it here in 2026. This loan is a symbol of our shared history with our friends in France, a relationship built over centuries and one that continues to endure.

    The British Museum is one of the world’s most visited museums and is a fitting place to host this most treasured piece of our nation’s history.

    Director of the British Museum Nicholas Cullinan said:

    The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most important and unique cultural artefacts in the world, which illustrates the deep ties between Britain and France and has fascinated people across geographies and generations. It is hard to overstate the significance of this extraordinary opportunity of displaying it at the British Museum and we are profoundly grateful to everyone involved. This will be the first time the Bayeux Tapestry has been in the UK since it was made, almost 1000 years ago. We are also delighted to send the Lewis chessmen, and some of our treasures from Sutton Hoo – the greatest archaeological discovery in Britain – to France in return.

    This is exactly the kind of international partnership that I want us to champion and take part in: sharing the best of our collection as widely as possible – and in return displaying global treasures never seen here before.

    Further details of the exhibition will be announced by the British Museum in due course.

    The loan will form part of a bilateral season of culture in 2027 that will celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conquerer and the Grand Départ of the 2027 Tour de France from the UK.

    Lord Peter Ricketts has been appointed by the government to act as the UK Government’s Envoy for the Bayeux Tapestry Loan. Further details on the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry, the loan of the Sutton Hoo Treasure will be made in due course.

    In addition, three UK cultural organisations will also be signing Memoranda of Understanding with French counterparts: the British Film Institute and the Centre National du Cinema; the National Trust and the Centre des Monuments Nationaux; and Sadler’s Wells and the Chaillot Théâtre National de la Danse. These partnerships between some of our flagship cultural organisations will ensure that creative partnerships and projects can continue to thrive between our two nations for years to come.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK President of France visits Parliament

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    The President of the French Republic, His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, will visit Parliament on Tuesday 8 July accompanied by Mrs Brigitte Macron.

    Find out more https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2025/july/french-president-visits-parliament/

    Catch-up on House of Lords business:

    Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
    Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/

    Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:

    • X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
    • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
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    • Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords

    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPFOrarnM0U

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Touchstone 2025 award winners announced

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Touchstone 2025 award winners announced

    Winners of the Touchstone Award 2025 for hallmarking enforcement and education announced.

    The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has awarded the Touchstone Award 2025 to London Trading Standards (LTS) for its role in ‘Operation Stamping it Out’, at the recent Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) annual conference in Blackpool.

    The Touchstone Award, launched by the BHC in 2012, sponsored by the National Association of Jewellers and supported by the CTSI, recognises the most effective initiative relating to hallmarking enforcement or education delivered by a local authority.

    Launched in 2023, ‘Operation Stamping It Out’ is a pioneering hallmarking education and enforcement project, established and funded by the London Assay Office and delivered in conjunction with the WRi Group. It aims to ensure retailers of silver, gold, platinum and palladium jewellery and artworks in London and the Southeast are compliant with the Hallmarking Act (1973), and is delivered through a programme of education, awareness and enforcement.

    Across the 8 LTS teams involved in the operation:

    • 132 intelligence reports were generated
    • 311 retailers were visited
    • more than 200 verbal or written warnings were issued for hallmarking non-compliance
    • over £250,000 worth of silver and gold jewellery without hallmarks has been seized
    • 4 active criminal prosecutions are underway

    The Chair of the BHC, Noel Hunter, said:

    The British Hallmarking Council congratulates London Trading Standards on winning the Touchstone Award. It was an incredible team effort which has produced, and continues to produce, unprecedented results. It will undoubtedly provide an enforcement model that can be used elsewhere across the UK. The BHC looks forward to supporting that development.

    The Chief Executive of the National Association of Jewellers, Ben Massey, said:

    Operation Stamping It Out has laid bare the serious threat that the illicit trade in un-hallmarked precious metals poses to consumers and to the UK jewellery industry – an industry worth £10 billion annually and supporting over 60,000 jobs.

    The outstanding results achieved by London Trading Standards are a testament to what can be accomplished with focused enforcement, and the 2025 Touchstone Award is richly deserved. However, this must not remain a localised effort. It is imperative that Trading Standards teams and related agencies come together to adopt and implement a similar programme nationally, ensuring a consistent and robust response across traditional retail and digital marketplaces.

    The Director of the London Assay Office, Will Evans, said:

    For more than 700 years, the London Assay Office has protected consumers and the trade by ensuring the quality of precious metals. We are incredibly proud to support Operation Stamping It Out, and thrilled that the collaboration between WRi Group and London Trading Standards – which has seen more than £250,000 of illegal items removed from the streets so far – has been recognised with the 2025 Touchstone Award.

    The dedication and professionalism shown by the teams from the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Camden, Westminster, Hackney, Ealing, Waltham Forest, and Newham, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to protecting consumers and businesses, shows how much can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada is supporting 13 Indigenous-led clean energy projects through the Low Carbon Economy Fund’s Indigenous Leadership Fund

    Source: Government of Canada News

    July 8, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec

    As protectors of the land and water, Indigenous peoples have long been leaders in climate action. In addition to advocating for the care of our planet, First Nations, Inuit, and Métis are making significant contributions to lowering greenhouse gas emissions as leaders or key partners in the development of almost 20% of Canada’s clean electricity infrastructure.

    To further support this leadership, today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, announced over $40 million in funding through the Low Carbon Economy Indigenous Leadership Fund to support 13 Indigenous-owned and -led clean energy projects across Canada.

    These projects include the installation of solar panels, wind turbines, and heat pumps, as well as building energy retrofits that will help Indigenous communities save on energy costs and increase renewable energy use. They also help create jobs and leverage economic opportunities to further benefit those communities.

    • The K’ómoks First Nation in British Columbia will receive nearly $690,000 for its community solar project to install residential solar panels.
    • The Kinistin Saulteaux Nation in Saskatchewan will receive over $845,000 for its Kizis–Pimibizaowgamik project to build a charging system to power community EVs for local work and medical transportation.
    • The Makivvik Corporation in Quebec will receive approximately $3.5 million to purchase and distribute solar kits throughout Nunavik.
    • The Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre in Ontario will receive up to $1 million to install a heat pump system in the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre’s new building.
    • The Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation in Newfoundland and Labrador will receive over $1.6 million to install heat pumps in community-owned homes on Sheshatshiu Indian Reserve No. 3.
    • The Gitlaxt’aamiks Village Government in British Columbia will receive over $2.8 million to purchase and install electric heat pumps in community homes.
    • The Mushuau Innu First Nation in Newfoundland and Labrador will receive over $5.8 million to purchase and install heat pumps in community-owned homes in the remote community of Natuashish.
    • The Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band in Newfoundland and Labrador will receive nearly $4.3 million to purchase and install heat pumps in homes owned by community members.
    • The Hiawatha First Nation 162 in Ontario will receive nearly $3.4 million to make the newly built Rice Lake Elder’s complex and community building net zero.
    • The Métis Nation of Alberta will receive over $9.2 million to retrofit approximately 500 citizen-owned homes across Alberta.
    • The Seabird Island Band in British Columbia will receive over $5.6 million to improve the energy efficiency of two schools and an administration building.
    • The Métis National Council Secretariat Inc. in Ontario will receive up to $150,000 to conduct an audit of the Métis National Council’s operating carbon footprint.
    • The Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise in Ontario will receive over $1.2 million for a collaborative impact project responding to federal best practices for Indigenous participation in program advisory and governance.

    These investments reaffirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to support reconciliation and integrate Indigenous Knowledge, voices, and perspectives in the work toward a sustainable future for all.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Int’l sniper competition to be held in NW China’s Xinjiang 2025-07-08 23:04:32 A Chinese defense spokesperson on Tuesday announced that the Sharp Blade-2025 International Sniper Competition will be held in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in mid-July.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) — A Chinese defense spokesperson on Tuesday announced that the Sharp Blade-2025 International Sniper Competition will be held in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in mid-July.

      The competition will be hosted by China’s People’s Armed Police Force, featuring events like precision sniping, typical scenario sniping, comprehensive combat sniping and extreme scenario sniping, said Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.

      Nearly 50 sniper teams from more than 20 countries will participate in the events, according to the spokesperson.

      The competition will help improve the practical training of the People’s Armed Police Force, and strengthen its cooperation and exchange with foreign police and gendarmerie forces, Jiang said.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Thousands of PLA personnel deployed to flood-hit Rongjiang 2025-07-08 22:57:51 More than 9,200 military personnel and 14,000 militia members have been mobilized to help with flood rescue in Rongjiang county, Southwest China’s Guizhou province, a defense spokesman said on Tuesday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      By JIANG CHENGLONG

      More than 9,200 military personnel and 14,000 militia members have been mobilized to help with flood rescue in Rongjiang county, Southwest China’s Guizhou province, a defense spokesman said on Tuesday.

      Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, announced the mobilization in an online news briefing to address the response to the major floods, which struck Rongjiang in late last month.

      “A natural disaster is an order for action, and the disaster-hit area is the battlefield for the troops,” Jiang said, noting that the forces of the People’s Liberation Army and People’s Armed Police rushed to the affected region to fight the floods and mitigate the losses.

      In addition to the personnel deployment, a total of 90 sets of large engineering equipment have been mobilized to participate in tasks including search and rescue, relocation of residents, road clearance, removal of mud and disinfection, he said.

      “People’s safety is the top priority,” said Jiang. “The people’s military will faithfully live up to its fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, earnestly safeguard the lives and property of the people, and resolutely fulfill all tasks entrusted by the Party and the people.”

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China willing to share military equipment achievements with friendly countries: defense ministry 2025-07-08 22:32:45 China has always taken a prudent, responsible approach to military exports and is willing to share the achievements of its equipment development with friendly countries, a Chinese defense spokesperson said on Tuesday.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) — China has always taken a prudent, responsible approach to military exports and is willing to share the achievements of its equipment development with friendly countries, a Chinese defense spokesperson said on Tuesday.

      Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks when commenting on recent reports that several countries are in discussions with China regarding weapon procurement plans that include China’s J-10 fighter jet.

      Jiang also stressed the country’s commitment to playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability. 

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    MIL OSI China News –