NewzIntel.com

Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKMA and AIIB partner to support emerging Asia venture capital (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
     
    The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) today (June 26) signed a partnership agreement to support venture capital (VC) in emerging Asia, marking a new milestone in deepening the ties and collaboration between the two institutions.

    Under the partnership, the HKMA and the AIIB will collaborate closely to invest in a portfolio of VC funds that prioritise investments across emerging markets in Asia. The HKMA and the AIIB aim to jointly support the development of innovative technologies and business models for green and technology-enabled infrastructure in Asia’s emerging economies, while promoting Hong Kong’s established ecosystem for VCs and innovators across the region.

         The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Mr Paul Chan, said, “Energy transition and infrastructure development of the Global South require substantial financial investment and support from technological applications in various fields. This collaboration combines and leverages the HKMA’s and the AIIB’s knowledge, experience, networks, and strengths. It supports emerging Asian economies in accelerating their development towards more prosperous and inclusive growth through innovation and technology. Additionally, it aids in building a more vibrant venture capital and innovation ecosystem within the region and further reinforces Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, innovation and technology centre.”

         The Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Eddie Yue, said, “As a leading innovation technology hub, as well as a green finance hub in Asia, Hong Kong has been a staunch supporter of innovation and sustainable investment. We are pleased to join hands with the AIIB, which enables the HKMA to tap into its extensive expertise and network in sourcing investable opportunities in emerging Asia with a proper risk management and governance framework. We believe this strategic partnership will provide a demonstration effect on the scaling of capital for emerging Asia’s innovators.”

         The President of the AIIB, Mr Jin Liqun, said, “Hong Kong, China is a valued member of the AIIB and has played a pivotal role in the Bank’s growth, including through its leading global financial centre. The strategic partnership with the HKMA further deepens this relationship. By bringing together our respective strengths and expertise, the partnership will help mobilise capital for infrastructure, foster innovation, and accelerate the transition toward a sustainable and prosperous future across Asia.”
     
    About HKMA

    The HKMA is Hong Kong’s central banking institution. The HKMA’s four main functions are: (i) maintaining currency stability within the framework of the Linked Exchange Rate System; (ii) promoting the stability and integrity of the financial system, including the banking system; (iii) helping to maintain Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre, including the maintenance and development of Hong Kong’s financial infrastructure; and (iv) managing the Exchange Fund.
     
    About AIIB

         The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a multilateral development bank dedicated to financing “infrastructure for tomorrow,” with sustainability at its core. The AIIB began operations in 2016, now has 110 approved members worldwide, is capitalised at US$100 billion and is AAA-rated by major international credit rating agencies. The AIIB collaborates with partners to mobilise capital and invest in infrastructure and other productive sectors that foster sustainable economic development and enhance regional connectivity. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal alien sentenced to 60 months for illegally reentering the United States

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Honduran national who resided in Houston has been sentenced for illegally entering the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Denis Hernandez-Cruz pleaded guilty April 11.

    U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge has now ordered Hernandez-Cruz to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Hernandez-Cruz needed a substantial sentence to deter him from illegally reentering again.

    Hernandez-Cruz has felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as two convictions for burglary of a habitation. He has three prior removals from the United States, most recently in April 2020.

    He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

    Immigrations and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Prison Inmates Sentenced for the Death of Fellow Inmate

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jonathan Guillory, 45, and Anthony Bell, 44, both federal inmates at the U.S. Penitentiary-Florence, Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado, were sentenced for their roles in the death of a fellow inmate.

    According to the plea agreements, on December 6, 2021, a violent altercation occurred inside a cell at ADX involving Guillory and the victim. During the confrontation, Guillory repeatedly stabbed the victim with a homemade weapon, including a fatal wound to the base of the throat. While the assault unfolded, Bell exited the cell and deliberately held the door shut, preventing the victim from escaping or receiving assistance.

    Guillory was sentenced to 88 months for voluntary manslaughter and Bell was sentenced to 27 months for involuntary manslaughter.

    “This case underscores our unwavering commitment to safety within the federal prison system,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Acts of violence, even behind bars, will be met with serious consequences. These defendants now face significant additional time to reflect on the gravity of their actions and the reach of the law.”

    “The FBI does not give felons a free pass to commit crimes because they are already serving federal time,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Violence behind bars – whether committed against prison staff or fellow inmates – brings consequences, as this case demonstrates.”

    United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez sentenced Bell on June 12, 2025, and sentenced Guillory on June 18, 2025.

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by the Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

    Case Number: 1:23-cr-00391-RMR 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Members of Violent ‘21st and Vietnam’ Crew Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking, Shooting

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

                WASHINGTON –  Jamiek Bassil, 32, and Charles Manson, 34, of the District of Columbia, were sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 135 months in prison and 175 months, respectively, for their roles in the violent 21st and Vietnam drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl, crack cocaine, and other drugs in Northeast Washington, D.C., and elsewhere, and, in Manson’s case, for a March 2024 shooting near 19th and I Streets NE. The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

                Bassil, aka “Onion,” pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the 135-month prison term, Judge Beryl A. Howell ordered Bassil to serve five years of supervised release.

                Manson, aka “Cheese,” pleaded guilty on March 21, 2025, to multiple counts: conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition to the 170-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Manson to serve five years of supervised release.

                According to court documents, Bassil and Manson were members of the “21st and Vietnam” crew, which controlled an open-air drug market and distributed narcotics in the area of the 2100 block of Maryland Avenue, NE.

                Bassil repeatedly sold significant quantities of fentanyl – as much as roughly 80 grams at a time — to undercover law enforcement between January and March 2024.

                Manson sold narcotics directly to customers and was captured on surveillance video engaging in hand-to-hand drug transactions. During the conspiracy, Manson also participated in multiple controlled drug sales to law enforcement.

                In a March 7, 2024, Manson was the gunman in a shooting. Manson was with several co-conspirators adjacent to an apartment building on the 1900 block of I Street that was the base of the conspiracy’s operations. A person walked by with their dog. Members of the crew had a verbal altercation with the dogwalker. Manson then went into the crew’s stash house in the apartment building. A crew member handed Manson a ski mask. Manson exited the apartment building wearing the mask and armed with a gun. Manson fired several rounds in the direction of the dogwalker. Neither the dogwalker nor the dog were hit.

                On May 15, 2024, investigators arrested Manson at his residence on the 1900 block of I Street, NE. Law enforcement recovered a Glock 17 pistol loaded with 22 rounds of 9mm ammunition. They also recovered a handgun magazine, a box of ammunition, about 50 grams of fentanyl analogue, about 13.88 grams of cocaine, and assorted drug paraphernalia.

                This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

                This investigation was a multi-agency effort between the Violent Crime Investigations Team of the Violent Crime Suppression Division of the Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Cross-Border Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Washington Division, the District of Columbia National Guard Counter Drug Program, and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Duvall and Solomon Eppel of the Violent Crime Reduction and Narcotics Trafficking Section.

    24cr226

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Police Officer Sentenced to Prison and 20 Years of Supervised Release for Possessing Child Pornography

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PHOENIX, Ariz. – Samuel Joseph Weimer, 46, of Show Low, Arizona, was sentenced on June 24, 2025, by United States District Judge Diane J. Humetewa, to 42 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Weimer previously pleaded guilty to Possessing Child Pornography. 

    Between August and November of 2022, Weimer used a social media chat room to contact an individual he believed to be a father living in Pennsylvania who was willing to provide his 11-year-old daughter for sex. Weimer sent two images and one video of child pornography to this individual. In an interview with law enforcement, Weimer admitted to possessing and sending the pornographic files. At the time of the offense, Weimer was employed as a police officer with the Show Low Police Department.

    “Police officers swear an oath to uphold the law and protect our citizens” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This makes Mr. Weimer’s possession of child pornography even more appalling. Child pornography humiliates and degrades our most vulnerable members of society and will never be tolerated.”

    “The conduct of this former police officer was beyond shocking and a gross betrayal of public trust,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “When someone in a position of authority commits such a revolting crime, the damage extends beyond the youthful victims— it shakes the very foundation of our communities’ trust. No matter their badge or title, the FBI will always aggressively pursue cases like this one.”

    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.justice.gov/psc.

    The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

    CASE NUMBER:           CR-24-08089-PCT-DJH
    RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-100_Weimer

    # # #

    For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

    Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Columbian National Indicted, Accused of Assaulting Officer

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ST. LOUIS – A man from Columbia was indicted Wednesday and accused of assaulting an officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    Yefferson Josue Pinzon Suarez, 31, was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis with one felony count of assaulting a federal employee.

    In March, an immigration judge ordered Pinzon Suarez removed from the country, according to a motion to have Pinzon Suarez held in jail until trial. On June 20, he was picked up from the St. Louis County Jail, where he was serving a sentence. After being taken to the Robert A. Young Federal Building in downtown St. Louis, Pinzon Suarez refused to cooperate during fingerprinting. Pinzon Suarez bit a deportation officer’s forearm and hit him in the chest, the motion says.

    Pinzon Suarez had been living in Maryland Heights.

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

    Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Department of Homeland Security investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Felon Who Sold Fentanyl and Heroin Causing Two Marion Overdose Deaths Convicted by Jury

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    A convicted federal felon who sold fentanyl and heroin that resulted in two overdose deaths in 2023 was convicted by a jury on June 25, 2025, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

    Cody Kinzie Dittmar, age 34, originally from Dubuque, Iowa, but who was living Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the time of the crimes, was convicted of distributing and conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl, resulting in two deaths.  The verdict was returned yesterday afternoon following about two hours of jury deliberations.

    Court records show that Dittmar was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison for a 2017 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  The evidence at trial showed that Dittmar was released to federal supervised release on that conviction in June 2023.  Dittmar immediately began selling heroin and fentanyl with his girlfriend, then wife, Alysha (Gould) Dittmar.  On July 1, 2023, the Dittmars sold a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and xylazine to a customer in Marion, Iowa.  The customer and his wife used the drugs shortly thereafter.  Both then died of overdoses.  The Dittmars continued to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Cedar Rapids area until July 2024.  Alysha Dittmar previously pled guilty to distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in the two deaths.

    Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared.  Dittmar remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.  Dittmar faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on each count and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, $2,000,000 in fines, and a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.

    The case was investigated by the Marion Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff’s Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Nagin and Dan Chatham.

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

    The case file number is 25‑CR‑00001‑CJW‑MAR.

    Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Bullard High School Teacher Charged with Federal Child Exploitation Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Ray Anthony Waller, 37, of Fresno, charging him with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child sexual abuse images, and sending obscene material to a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, between mid-November 2024 and mid-February 2025, Waller communicated with a minor by sending text, voice, and iMessages designed to have the minor create and transmit to Waller images of the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Waller sent obscene images of himself to the victim and convinced the victim to reciprocate with images of the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Waller is currently detained pending trial. A detention hearing to determine his federal custody status has been scheduled for June 30, 2025. Waller has also been charged in Fresno County Superior Court with crimes relating to this conduct.

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, specifically the Fresno Police Department, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa is prosecuting the case.

    If convicted of the sexual exploitation of a minor offense, Waller faces a prison term of between 15 and 30 years and a fine up to $250,000. If convicted for receipt of child sexual abuse images, he faces a prison term of between 5 and 20 years and fine up to $250,000. If convicted for transmitting obscene material to a minor, he faces a prison term of up to 10 years and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bennington Man Sentenced to 50 Months for Possessing Bomb

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on June 24, 2025, Tyler Hayes, 43, of Bennington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph LaPlante to a term of 50 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Hayes was previously convicted by a jury on February 13, 2025, of unlawfully possessing an unregistered bomb and possessing a bomb as an unlawful drug user after a 5-day trial.

    According to court records and evidence presented at trial, a bomb was discovered in Hayes’s former Bennington residence days after he abandoned the property in February of 2023. The property manager contacted law enforcement, who defused the bomb. Witnesses at trial described how Hayes had been discussing and constructing bombs for months, and had offered to trade a bomb for fentanyl. Other witnesses described Hayes making admissions after the bomb was discovered, including that he was “on the run” after a bomb had been found at his residence. An explosives expert from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives testified that, although the homemade bomb was rudimentary and simplistic (constructed from a combination of a pipe bomb and flammable liquids stored in plastic water bottles), it was nonetheless capable of causing substantial destruction and injury had it been detonated.

    The jury convicted Hayes of possessing an unregistered destructive device, in violation of the National Firearms Act (“NFA”), and of possessing a destructive device while being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, in violation of the Gun Control Act (“GCA”). Hayes faced up to 10 years in prison on the NFA violation, and up to 15 years on the GCA violation.

    Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Vermont State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, and the Bennington Police Department.  

    The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith and Nicole Cate. Hayes was represented by James Valente, Esq., and Chandler Matson, Esq.

    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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Reentry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BOSTON – A Mexican national unlawfully residing in New Bedford has pleaded guilty to one count of illegally reentering the United States after deportation.

    Bernardo Lorenzo-Guatemala, 38, pleaded guilty on July 24, 2025 to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. He was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in May 2025.  

    Lorenzo-Guatemala was deported from the United States on June 4, 2019. Sometime after his removal, Lorenzo-Guatemala unlawfully reentered the United States. immigration officials became aware of Lorenzo-Guatemala’s unlawful presence in the United States following his arrest on July 2, 2024 for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

    The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sun Prairie Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Illegally Possessing Firearms

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Javaris Nunn, 33, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced June 24, 2025, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 30 months in prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Nunn pleaded guilty to this charge on March 26, 2025.

    On December 28, 2023, Nunn was a rear passenger in a vehicle that was stopped because it did not have a license plate. Next to Nunn, officers found a backpack containing an unloaded Glock 42 .380 caliber handgun and a loaded Smith & Wesson M&P .45 caliber handgun with the serial number scratched off. While Nunn denied knowledge of the handguns, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory found evidence of Nunn’s DNA on both guns.

    Nunn has prior felony convictions for theft from a person, felon in possession of a firearm, and robbery. As a convicted felon, Nunn cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

    At sentencing, Judge Peterson said that he was considering not only Nunn’s traumatic past and positive characteristics, but also his significant criminal history and the severity of the offense.  Judge Peterson noted that Nunn carrying firearms was a recipe for disaster. Judge Peterson imposed the sentence to run concurrently with a state revocation sentence and ordered that Nunn serve three years of supervised release.

    The charge against Nunn was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consisting of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies representing the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.

    This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: TikTok Unveils Expansion of Global Mental Health Fund and Innovative Safety Tools to Champion Digital Well-Being in Africa

    TikTok (www.TikTok.com) today hosted its inaugural Digital Well-being Summit in Johannesburg, bringing together policymakers, mental health experts, NGOs, and industry leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa. Delegates from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and beyond gathered to further strengthen efforts to support and protect community well-being on the platform. The summit provided a platform for open dialogue on enhancing online safety tools, promoting digital literacy and access to experts, fostering a balanced online environment.

    A comprehensive suite of new tools and partnerships were introduced, including the expansion of TikTok’s global $2.3 million mental health fund to Sub-Saharan Africa, expanded local in-app helplines, and an industry-first meditation feature for all TikTok users. The event also spotlighted ongoing efforts such as TikTok’s #MentalHealthMatters campaign, which continues to promote positive mental health practices across the globe. Together, these actions are designed to support balanced digital habits, providing communities with access to reliable information.

    “We commend the private sector’s efforts to foster digital literacy and create a safer online environment for all. Such efforts reflect the government and the private sector’s collective responsibility to inspire creativity, empower communities and connect young people to the digital world,” added Hon. Minister Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education, South Africa.

    Bringing in-app meditation to our entire community

    As part of its commitment to empowering users to manage their online experience, TikTok has introduced a guided meditation experience in Sleep Hours – an in-app well-being experience automatically enabled at 22:00 for all users under the age of 18. Anyone above this age can choose to turn it on. This feature, the first of its kind in the industry, was piloted in March 2025 and is available worldwide.

    Research shows that mindful meditation can improve sleep quality, helping young users wind down and build healthier night-time routines. The introduction of this tool reinforces TikTok’s mission to support digital well-being by fostering better sleep hygiene and emotional regulation, particularly for teens and adolescents navigating the pressures of a hyper-connected world.

    “People come to TikTok to learn, share their experiences, and connect with communities around the world. That’s why we’re proud to introduce tools that not only support digital wellbeing, but also empower our community, especially young users, with a safe, supportive space to explore and navigate complex emotions,” said Valiant Richey, TikTok Global Head of Trust and Safety Outreach and Partnerships.

    TikTok’s Mental Health Education Fund Expands to Support African Organsiations

    At the summit, TikTok also announced the expansion of its $2.3 million global Mental Health Education Fund to include organisations from Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the platform’s commitment to supporting mental health education across the continent.

    With this expansion, three Sub-Saharan African organisations have been selected as inaugural regional recipients, including the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, and Kenya’s Mental360. These organisations will receive funding and platform support to develop locally relevant, evidence-based content that raises awareness, reduces stigma, and encourages open dialogue around mental health in African communities.

    TikTok created the Mental Health Education Fund in 2023 to support organisations in creating authoritative, engaging and uplifting mental health content. Globally, the Fund has so far helped organisations gain more than 173 million impressions on their content, more than 600,000 new followers for their accounts, prompted more than 200,000 web visits, and helped recruit 486 new volunteers, thanks to a combined $7.3 million in ad credit donations.

    Expansion of In-App Mental Health Helplines Across Africa

    Building on a successful pilot in France and subsequent rollout across European countries, TikTok is expanding in-app helpline resources across Africa. In the coming weeks, users of some countries in Africa will have access to local helplines in-app that provide expert support when reporting content related to suicide, self-harm, hate, and harassment. This feature builds on existing capabilities that direct users to mental health resources when they report bullying and harassment, further strengthening access to timely and relevant support on the platform.

    These partners can offer assistance including counselling, advice, free psychological support, and other essential services to those in need. While TikTok reviews reported content and removes violations of Community Guidelines, users can connect with these partner organisations to receive personal support, should they need it.

    TikTok announces Mental Health Ambassadors to support online wellbeing in Africa

    As part of its ongoing partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), TikTok has officially introduced its new Mental Health Ambassadors, a diverse group of verified healthcare professionals from the WHO Fides Network.

    The inaugural cohort of Mental Health Ambassadors includes:

    • Sanam Naran: (South Africa)
    • Dr Claire Kinuthia (Kenya)
    • Doctor Wales (Nigeria)
    • Doctor Siya (South Africa)

    Commitment to Digital Safety and Innovation

    The Digital Well-Being Summit underscores TikTok’s broader strategy to proactively address digital harms through innovation, collaboration, and empathy. By combining safety technology, expert partnerships, and community engagement, TikTok continues to lead the way in creating responsible, empowering online environments for African users.

    “At Spectra, we are excited to be partnering with TikTok and believe technology should enhance human wellbeing and ensure safety at every touchpoint. Our partnership with TikTok for the Summit reflects our shared vision of creating digital environments that are not only innovative, but also secure and supportive. Together, we’re advancing solutions that prioritise both mental health and online safety for communities everywhere.” Yusuf Akoojee, Marketing Director at Spectra.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TikTok.

    Additional information: 
    https://apo-opa.co/4emljGR

    Media contacts:
    Keagile Makgoba
    Head: Communications, Sub-Saharan Africa
    keagile.m@tiktok.com  

    Pereruan Kenana
    Kenya & East Africa Communications Lead
    pereruan.kenana@tiktok.com

    Itumeleng Morule
    South Africa & Southern Africa Communications Lead
    itumeleng.morule@tiktok.com 

    About TikTok:
    TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok’s global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and its offices include New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

    About Spectra:
    Spectra creates experiences through devices that offer timeless design, effortless sophistication, and empowering innovation.

    Every product in our collection is a testament to precision, style, and unparalleled functionality. From our sleek smartphones to our sophisticated watches and versatile tablets, each Spectra product balances performance with unmatched style.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy President Mashatile addresses the High-Level G20 Intergenerational Roundtable hosted by NYDA

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivers the keynote address at the High-Level G20 Intergenerational Roundtable, hosted by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)

    Checkout more: http://www.thepresidency.gov.za

    Get Social
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/PresidencyZA
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/presidencyza/?hl=en
    Twitter ► @PresidencyZA

    #ThePresidencyofSouthAfrica #PresidencyZA

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqstJ5kMaxc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Morgan McGarvey Cosponsors War Powers Resolution

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)

    June 26, 2025

    Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey cosponsored a Congressional War Powers Resolution directing Donald Trump “to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” Congressman McGarvey said earlier this week: “On behalf of all Louisvillians, I am fighting to ensure American safety and security and that our top priority is peace and not another endless war.”

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF

    Full text:

    Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. 

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

    That, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(c)), Congress directs the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran, other than those elements of the Armed Forces that may be necessary to defend the United States or an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack provided that the President complies fully with the requirements of section 5(b) the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)) with respect to any such use of the Armed Forces, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of war or a specific congressional authorization for use of military force against Iran.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman McGarvey Sends Letter to EPA Administrator About Concerning Spike in Forever Chemicals Detected in the Ohio River

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan McGarvey (Kentucky-03)

    June 26, 2025

    Today, Congressman Morgan McGarvey sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin raising the alarm about a sharp spike in forever chemicals detected in the Ohio River, which is downstream of notorious polluters like the Chemours Washington Works Plant.

    Data from Louisville Water shows that in November 2024, detected levels of the PFAS chemical GenX spiked dramatically, jumping from under 5 parts per trillion (ppt) to over 50 ppt. Studies have revealed that GenX consumption can have adverse effects on the liver, kidneys, immune system, offspring development, and an association with cancer.

    “Water safety impacts all Louisvillians, which is why I am deeply concerned by the significant spike in the detection of the forever chemical GenX in the Ohio River last November,” said Congressman McGarvey. “For weeks, my office has been in touch with relevant stakeholders who share my concerns which is why today, I am urging EPA Administrator Zeldin to consider the troubling health impacts that communities across the country will face in the event that Trump’s EPA takes the side of polluters.”

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD LETTER

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD GRAPH

    Full text:

    Dear Administrator Zeldin, 

    In light of your announced intention to revisit maximum contaminant levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and related chemicals, I am writing to express a significant concern for my district, Louisville, Kentucky, and the numerous communities that rely on the Ohio River for their drinking water. I urge you to carefully consider the concerning health impacts that these communities and others across the country will face if per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances continue to pollute our nation’s waters. 

    Further, if your review of the regulatory determinations made under the Safe Drinking Water Act does lead to reduced protections for Kentuckians with PFAS in their drinking water, I ask that you please provide your plan to prevent the continued release of PFAS pollutants into their waterways in the first place and how to hold polluters accountable for alarming spikes like the one seen in November 2024. The chart indicating this spike is included below. 

    While Louisville Water remains confident in its ability to treat the water from the Ohio River, the responsibility of preventing PFAS from entering the waterways ultimately lies with the polluters themselves. Data from Louisville Water, which provides drinking water to roughly one million customers in Jefferson, Shelby, Spencer, Bullitt, Hardin, and Nelson counties in Kentucky, shows that in November 2024, detected levels of the PFAS chemical GenX spiked dramatically, jumping from under 5 parts per trillion (ppt) to over 50 ppt. 

    Chemours, a spin-off of DuPont Chemicals, developed hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA, or GenX) as a replacement for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in various industrial and consumer applications. GenX was designed to address concerns stemming from litigation related to PFOA’s toxicity. It is used in high-performance polymers for manufacturing cabling, cookware, non-stick coatings, laptops, cell phones, and other similar applications. GenX chemicals have been found in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, rainwater, and air emissions. Studies have revealed that GenX consumption can have adverse effects on the liver, kidneys, immune system, offspring development, and an association with cancer.   

    In 2024, EPA established the first-ever national drinking water standards to protect Americans from exposure to a wide range of PFAS, including GenX. Per your May announcement, EPA now intends to rescind regulations for GenX and some other PFAS chemicals while conducting a review of the legal process in making those regulatory determinations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. As your agency conducts this review of the regulatory process, I urge you to consider the harm that rescinding GenX limits in drinking water will have on my constituents and other communities along the Ohio River downstream of notorious polluters like the Chemours Washington Works Plant.

    I appreciate your attention to this matter.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 26th, 2025 Heinrich, Schatz, Wyden Slam Republicans’ Tax Bill for Gutting Tribal Energy Program and Energy Tax Credits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    More than 100 Tribes have signed onto letters calling on the Senate to protect the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program and the Clean Energy Tax Credits

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released the following statement on Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Betrayal that harms Tribal communities:

    “As extreme heat strains the grid and leaves thousands without power, Senate Republicans are pushing a bill that would hike costs and worsen energy shortages. Their plan slashes investments in the new energy sources we need to meet demand and keep prices down.

    “The bill is particularly harmful to Tribal Nations, pulling the rug out from under projects that would strengthen their energy sovereignty and power local communities. Together, the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program and our Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits have cleared pathways and removed significant barriers for Tribes to finance and build their own resilient energy infrastructure. More than 100 Tribes have advocated to protect these programs, which are already creating high-quality jobs, increasing energy security, and building economic opportunity in Indian Country and across the nation. We are also committed to taking additional steps to level the playing field for Tribal communities and cut the red tape that has limited their access to these energy programs. 

    “The Big, Beautiful Betrayal isn’t about energy dominance or making life affordable for working families. It’s about cutting essential programs that benefit people from all walks of life to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.”

    More than 100 Tribes have signed onto letters written to Ranking Member Heinrich, Ranking Member Wyden, and Vice Chairman Schatz expressing the importance of the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program and the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act to empowering Tribal energy development.

    The letters are available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Newsletters – June 2025 – Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

    Source: European Parliament


    June 2025 | Newsletters | Home | LIBE | Committees | European Parliament


















    Among the topics:

    • Structured Dialogue with Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection
    • Exchange of views on Child-Friendly Justice in Criminal Matters – Children as Victims, Witnesses and Offenders
    • Mid-term review of the “Strategy to strengthen the application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights in the EU”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Impact of illegal immigration on housing and urban centres in the EU – E-002475/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002475/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)

    In addition to surging crime rates, the ghettoisation of urban centres and social unrest, the uncontrolled influx of illegal immigrants on the European continent has led to a serious lack of available housing, and thus skyrocketing rental prices. Will the Commission therefore answer the following:

    • 1.What data does it have on the correlation between the increase in the number of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers and the availability of housing in the EU cities where concentrations thereof have been observed?
    • 2.What measures has it taken to support Member States and cities in which the housing problem has demonstrably worsened as a direct consequence of illegal immigration?
    • 3.Does it intend to propose financial instruments aimed at relieving urban centres that shoulder a disproportionate burden due to the concentration of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, in order to ensure social cohesion and affordable housing for European citizens?

    Submitted: 18.6.2025

    Last updated: 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – European Court of Auditors’ Special Report 11/2025: poor classification and registration of grant applicants – E-001816/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The two European Court of Auditors’ (ECA) special reports had different scopes: the 2018 report focused on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in external action, while the 2025 report focused on NGOs in internal policies. The Commission refers to its replies to the 2018 ECA Special Report[1].

    The Commission accepted three out of four ECA’s recommendations and, in 2021, ECA assessed that those recommendations were fully and timely implemented[2].

    The Commission did not accept one of the four recommendations and justified why its funding to NGOs was sufficiently transparent, especially given that the regulatory framework at the time did not provide for an accepted definition of NGOs at an international or European level.

    As acknowledged by ECA[3], the co-legislators only agreed on the introduction of a definition of an NGO in the Financial Regulation in September 2024, while the audit scope covered ‘funding for EU internal policies for the 2021-2023 period’[4].

    In the light of ECA’s 2025 recommendations, the Commission will explore whether this recent definition of an NGO should and could be further clarified.

    Such clarification should not increase administrative burden for NGOs, nor should it limit access to EU funds, considering that, as acknowledged by the 2025 ECA report, only six Member States have such a definition in their national legislation.

    Besides, any additional clarification should be proportionate, given there is no indication that the NGO status poses a higher risk for the EU budget, compared to other types of entities.

    This is particularly relevant since the NGO status is generally not a prerequisite for receiving EU funding. More detailed explanations may be found in the Commission replies to the ECA’s Special Report 11/2025.

    • [1] https://www.eca.europa.eu/Lists/ECADocuments/SR18_35/SR_NGO_FUNDING_EN.pdf , pp. 38-48.
    • [2] https://www.eca.europa.eu/lists/ecadocuments/annualreport-performance-2021/annualreport-performance-2021_en.pdf, p. 122.
    • [3] https://www.eca.europa.eu/lists/ecadocuments/annualreport-performance-2021/annualreport-performance-2021_en.pdf , p. 162 and https://www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublications/SR-2025-11/SR-2025-11_EN.pdf, paragraph 5.
    • [4] https://www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublications/SR-2025-11/SR-2025-11_EN.pdf, Annex 1, paragraph 14.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Preparedness strategy for avian influenza outbreaks – E-002453/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002453/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Leire Pajín (S&D), César Luena (S&D), Nicolás González Casares (S&D)

    The WHO has been warning that there could be an unprecedented spread of the avian influenza virus. The situation, especially in the United States and the Americas as a whole, is very worrying, and we need to step up precautionary measures as a result, since there is a high risk of human-to-human transmission. From the start of 2003 to 22 April 2025, a total of 973 cases of avian influenza in humans, of which 470 were fatal (case fatality rate of 48 %), have been reported from 25 countries globally.

    As it faces this situation, the EU must step up precautions and be prepared. We would therefore like to ask the Commission the following questions:

    • 1.How is the Commission stepping up its prevention, preparedness and response efforts in this area in conjunction with its Member States, and what cooperation mechanisms does it have with third countries?
    • 2.How is the One Health approach being integrated into the preparedness strategy to cover the risk to food security and nutrition?
    • 3.What progress has been made with regard to developing or acquiring H5N1 vaccines, both for animals and for humans?

    Submitted: 18.6.2025

    Last updated: 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – DKOR ordinary meeting, 3 July 2025, 10.00-11.30, SPAAK 6B54 – Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula

    Source: European Parliament

    ***In camera***

    4. Exchange of views with H.E. María CASTILLO FERNÁNDEZ, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Korea

    5. Exchange of views with H.E. Jeonghyun RYU, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Kingdom of Belgium, European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

    ***End of in camera***

    6. Exchange of views following the 3 June elections in RoK and the implications for the relations with the EU with:

    · Prof. Jae-Seung LEE, Director of Ilmin International Relations Institute and Director of the Jean Monnet EU Center of Excellence, Korea University

    · Ms Lin GOETHALS, Director of the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU position on the economic blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States – E-002406/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002406/2025
    to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
    Rule 144
    Anthony Smith (The Left), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left)

    Since 3 February 1962, the United States of America has imposed on the Republic of Cuba an economic, commercial and financial blockade contrary to the principles of sovereign equality of states, non-intervention and non-interference, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

    Extraterritorial economic sanctions imposed by the US are having a disastrous impact on the human rights and living conditions of Cubans.

    Since 1992, the Republic of Cuba has submitted an annual motion to the UN General Assembly calling for the lifting of the blockade. While only 59 countries voted in favour of the motion when it was first presented, now almost all countries support it. On 30 October 2024, some 187 countries approved the latest motion.

    Can the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy therefore tell us whether the European Union condemns the economic blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba and what it is doing to enforce international law in this regard?

    Submitted: 16.6.2025

    Last updated: 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with the Republic of Cuba – E-002407/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002407/2025
    to the Council
    Rule 144
    Anthony Smith (The Left), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Estrella Galán (The Left), Rudi Kennes (The Left), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Arash Saeidi (The Left)

    On 6 May 2025, Parliament debated the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement with Cuba in plenary. During the debate, Ms Kaja Kallas stated: ‘The agreement is not the silver bullet. We all understand that. But in the face of economic distress and shifting geopolitical dynamics, it remains the European Union’s best shot at promoting our values, defending our interests and supporting reform.’

    With those words, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy made it clear that she was in favour of the agreement remaining in place, contrary to the demands of right-wing and far-right parliamentary groups, which had advocated for the breakdown of relations with Cuba at the September 2024 plenary session.

    In light of Ms Kaja Kallas’ statements, can the Council of the European Union confirm that it is also opposed to any breakdown of political dialogue with the Republic of Cuba?

    Submitted: 16.6.2025

    Last updated: 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund + (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges – PE773.410v03-00

    Source: European Parliament

    BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 establishing the European Social Fund + (ESF+) as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges
    Committee on Budgets
    Jean-Marc Germain

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – TikTok and EU regulation: Legal challenges and cross-jurisdictional insights – 26-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    While Europeans are adopting TikTok at a remarkable pace, recent headlines on addictive design, data protection violations, election interference, incendiary content and child sexual exploitation incidents are casting a shadow over its success. This briefing maps the key issues associated with the platform and outlines the European Union’s (EU) legal framework to facilitate parliamentary discussions on recent developments, inform debates on future legislation such as the digital fairness act, and support the European Parliament’s scrutiny of regulatory enforcement. EU investigations into TikTok are ongoing, yet few final decisions are available, and reliable information is sparse. A review of incidents and initiatives in the United States and the United Kingdom provides relevant insights on topical issues relating to TikTok. For instance, hearings and lawsuits linked to the US divest-or-ban law reveal possible national security risks arising from TikTok granting Chinese affiliates access to user data. Lawsuits from at least 16 US attorneys general demonstrate TikTok’s potentially addictive features. Parliament will review the results and formulate its position once EU enforcement actions and regulatory preparations conclude. More than 10 EU laws regulate social media operations and services. For instance, rules in the Artificial Intelligence Act, the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive and the General Data Protection Regulation on non-manipulation can be invoked to mitigate risks like addictive design. However, precise legal applications remain unclear without established case law. This creates broad enforcement possibilities, but it also suggests a need for clearer guidelines or additional regulation. While enforcement actions may escalate geopolitical tensions with China, these issues could be eased through collaboration on shared priorities such as child protection, enhancing strategic and operational interdependence, and exploring privacy-enhancing middleware solutions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Exchange of views with Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Committee on Budgetary Control

    Source: European Parliament

    Ukrainian and EU flags © European Union (2025) – European Parliament

    On 26 June 2025 the Committee on Budgetary Control held an exchange of views with the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

    CONT Members had the opportunity to discuss key strategies for enhancing anti-corruption oversight in Ukraine’s budget, defence, and judiciary during a comprehensive presentation. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) highlighted its role in supporting Ukraine’s anti-corruption initiatives. The session also covered the achievements and challenges of the High Anti-Corruption Court and outlined the State Audit Service’s mission of coordinating the Anti-Fraud Coordination Service, focusing on its collaboration with the EU under the Ukraine Facility framework. Public procurement in the area of defence was also addressed. These discussions underscored a collective commitment to strengthening anti-corruption measures in Ukraine.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – Next meeting of the FEMM Committee: 16-17 July 2025 – Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

    Source: European Parliament

    The next meeting of the Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights will take place on:

    • 16 July from 09:00 – 12:30 and from 15.00 – 18.30
    • 17 July from 09:00 – 12:30
    FEMM Committee meetings calendars
         2025
         FEMM Bureau and Coordinators
    FEMM work in progress
         FEMM work in progress (updated on 17/6/2025)

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Influence of the Muslim Brotherhood and FEMYSO’s activities – E-002476/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002476/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    François-Xavier Bellamy (PPE), Laurent Castillo (PPE), Céline Imart (PPE), Christophe Gomart (PPE), Nadine Morano (PPE), Isabelle Le Callennec (PPE)

    In statements of 19 March 2019 and 26 April 2023, the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) formally denied all links to the Muslim Brotherhood and announced its intention to ‘take legal action against organisations and individuals’ making these accusations. However, a report published by the French Ministry for Internal Affairs in May 2025, entitled ‘The Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islamism in France’, names FEMYSO as a major player in the Muslim Brotherhood network. Based on the above, as well as the threat that political Islamism poses to the future of the EU and the recent meeting between the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport and FEMYSO representatives on 13 June 2025, we ask:

    • 1.Is the Commission privy to new information disproving the serious accusations levelled against FEMYSO in the aforementioned report?
    • 2.If not, will the Commission stop all collaboration with FEMYSO in order to curb the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood, an organisation which appears on an EU Member State’s blacklist of organisations linked to ‘religiously motivated crime’?

    Submitted: 19.6.2025

    Last updated: 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Suspension of extraditions to Hungary and return of Maja T. following German court ruling – E-000830/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    As already indicated in the reply to Parliamentary Question E-001970/2024, the European arrest warrant is a judicial procedure between judicial authorities in the Member States based on the particular circumstances of each individual case where surrender is requested.

    Neither the Commission nor the Member States’ governments can interfere or influence decisions taken by judicial authorities. The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) is tasked to facilitate the execution of requests for, and decisions on, judicial cooperation, including requests and decisions based on the European arrest warrant.

    Last updated: 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Financing of innovative solutions in the water sector – E-001266/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    As announced in the President’s political Political Guidelines 2024-2029[1] the Commission has adopted a Water Resilience Strategy[2] ‘to ensure sources are properly managed, scarcity is addressed, and that we enhance the competitive innovative edge of our water industry and take a circular economy approach’. In this context, the strategy addressed the need to boost innovation and consider innovative financing solutions, including private investment.

    In recent years, key pieces of EU water sector legislation[3] have entered into force regarding drinking water[4], urban wastewater[5] and water reuse[6].

    These set ambitious requirements that necessitate innovative solutions, including treatment technologies, leakage management, energy management and circular water use. Innovations in these areas can further strengthen the competitive advantage of the EU water sector.

    The Water Resilience Strategy includes a number of proposals to mobilise the necessary public and private financing. The Cohesion policy funds[7] recent mid-term review[8] proposed by the Commission provides exceptional incentives for investing in water including up to 100% EU financing for this purpose.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en.
    • [2] https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en.
    • [3] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water_en.
    • [4] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/drinking-water_en.
    • [5] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/urban-wastewater_en.
    • [6] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-reuse_en.
    • [7] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/cohesion-fund_en.
    • [8] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/publications/communications/2025/a-modernised-cohesion-policy-the-mid-term-review_en.
    Last updated: 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –