NewzIntel.com

Category: Law

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pickleball Company Owner Waives Discharge of Over $47M in Unsecured Debt After USTP Investigation

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A pickleball entrepreneur who was forced into bankruptcy by investors he lured with promises of generous returns recently agreed to waive his bankruptcy discharge after an investigation by the Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP), preventing the discharge of more than $47 million in unsecured debt.

    On May 14, the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana approved a voluntary waiver of discharge by debtor Rodney Grubbs, owner of All About Pickleball LLC, an apparel and equipment company that did business as Pickleball Rocks. As a result, Grubbs remains personally liable for his debts, and creditors are free to pursue payment from him after the case is closed.

    Grubbs solicited investments from pickleball players and fans from across the United States, usually in the form of promissory notes with purportedly guaranteed interest rates of 10 percent or higher. In December 2023, several unpaid investors filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against Grubbs under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. Grubbs opposed the petition, but after a hearing in which he testified to using new investors’ funds to pay back previous investors, the bankruptcy court granted the involuntary petition and ordered the case to proceed. Grubbs eventually disclosed nearly $1.6 million in assets and more than $47 million in liabilities, the vast majority of them unsecured debts owed to hundreds of individuals.

    As part of its extensive investigation, the USTP’s Indianapolis office obtained Grubbs’ personal and business financial records and examined him under oath. Ultimately, Grubbs — who also faced allegations from multiple creditors consistent with a Ponzi scheme — elected to waive his bankruptcy discharge.

    “The USTP is committed to addressing fraudulent and abusive conduct that threatens the integrity of the bankruptcy system,” said U.S. Trustee Nancy J. Gargula for Region 10, which includes the Southern District of Indiana. “Our commitment to protecting consumers and those who fall victim to various schemes that come to light in bankruptcy is unwavering.”

    The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders — debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Westchester Mountain — Cumberland County District RCMP investigating multi-vehicle collision

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Cumberland County District RCMP is investigating a multi-vehicle collision that occurred on Hwy. 104.

    On June 9 at approximately 11:42 a.m., Cumberland County District RCMP, fire and EHS responded to a report of a collision involving three-vehicles and a fifth wheel trailer on Hwy. 104 near Westchester Mountain.

    Responding officers learned that a Ford F250 truck that was towing a fifth-wheel trailer had pulled over to the side of the highway due to a blown tire. As a Nissan Rogue and a Ford F150 were passing by the trailer a collision occurred between them. This collision caused the F150 to veer into the parked fifth wheel trailer. The driver of the Ford F250 and fifth wheel was outside the vehicle when the trailer was struck.

    The driver and of the Ford 250 truck, a 65-year-old man of Valley suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital by EHS LifeFlight. The passenger of the Ford 250 truck, a 65-year-old woman of Valley, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene. The driver of the Ford F150 truck, a 41-year-old woman, and passenger, a 59-year-old woman, both of Ontario suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene. The driver and sole occupant of the Nissan Rogue, a 69-year-old woman of Donkin was transported by EHS with minor injuries.

    The investigation is ongoing and is being led by Cumberland County District RCMP, with assistance of RCMP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction.

    Anyone with information about the collision or who may have dash cam footage is asked to contact Cumberland County District RCMP at 902-667-3859. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

    Hwy. 104 was closed for a period of time while RCMP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction completed their work.

    Note: On Monday, the collision was reported to have involved a tractor-trailer. The trailer involved has since been confirmed to be a fifth wheel.

    File #: 2025-799700

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Crime and Policing Bill: government amendments for committee and report stage

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Crime and Policing Bill: government amendments for committee and report stage

    Correspondence relating to the Crime and Policing Bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025.

    Documents

    Letter from Minister Johnson to Matt Vickers MP detailing government amendments for report stage: 10 June 2025 (accessible)

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    Letter from Minister Johnson to Matt Vickers MP detailing government amendments for report stage: 10 June 2025

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    Letter from Ministers Johnson and Davies-Jones to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 25 April 2025 (accessible)

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    Letter from Ministers Johnson and Davies-Jones to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 25 April 2025

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    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 23 April 2025

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    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 23 April 2025

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    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 26 March 2025

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    Letter from Minister Johnson to Public Bill Committee detailing government amendments for committee stage: 26 March 2025

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    Ministerial correspondence relating to the Crime and Policing Bill.

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to UK Ministry of Defence’s expression of concern over cross-strait peace and stability in Strategic Defence Review

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to UK Ministry of Defence’s expression of concern over cross-strait peace and stability in Strategic Defence Review

    Date：2025-06-03
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 3, 2025  

    On June 2, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) of the United Kingdom published its Strategic Defence Review, which stressed that the Indo-Pacific was strategically important to the United Kingdom and that growing Chinese assertiveness was a key driver of regional and global instability. The report also emphasized that China’s military exercises around Taiwan risked dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait and that its aggressive actions were fueling tension in the South China Sea. Moreover, the review stated that the MOD would continue strengthening regional partnerships and protecting freedom of navigation so as to further defend and shape international rules and norms. 
     
    At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, Admiral Tony Radakin, UK Chief of the Defence Staff, publicly stated that upholding the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the principles of freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific mattered greatly to the United Kingdom. He added that Royal Navy ships had therefore been exercising the right of freedom of navigation in the region, including in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. The fact the MOD’s Strategic Defence Review once again expressed grave concern over the Taiwan Strait and clear opposition to China’s provocative military actions demonstrates the United Kingdom’s consistent stance regarding the need to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly affirms and appreciates the UK statements. 
     
    The United Kingdom, a like-minded partner, shares with Taiwan such universal values as democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. It also plays a key role in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan will continue to engage in close cooperation with the United Kingdom and other democratic countries, taking concrete action to uphold peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, defend the rules-based international order, and jointly advance security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and throughout the world. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Govt rejects slanderous remarks

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today expressed strong dissatisfaction and opposition against the slanderous remarks made by some Western countries, anti-China organisations and anti-China politicians regarding the case of Joshua Wong involving the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and the Hong Kong SAR’s work on safeguarding national security.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government said as the legal proceedings of the case involving Joshua Wong are still ongoing, it is inappropriate for any person to comment on the details of the case.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government strongly urges these Western countries, anti-China organisations and anti-China politicians to immediately stop interfering in the Hong Kong SAR’s internal affairs and the independent exercise of judicial power by the courts.

    The Hong Kong SAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the people or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation.

    The Department of Justice is in charge of criminal prosecutions under the Basic Law, with all its prosecutorial decisions made on an objective analysis of all admissible evidence and applicable laws.

    The Judiciary exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the law, and everyone charged with a criminal offence will receive a fair trial strictly. The courts decide cases strictly in accordance with the evidence and all applicable laws. Cases will never be handled any differently owing to the profession, political beliefs or backgrounds of the people involved. The prosecution has the burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt the commission of an offence before a defendant may be convicted by the court.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government stressed that any attempt by any country, organisation or individual to interfere with the judicial proceedings in the Hong Kong SAR by means of political power, thereby resulting in a defendant not being able to have a fair trial that one should receive, is a reprehensible act undermining the rule of law and should be condemned.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government is appalled by irresponsible remarks of some countries, organisations or individuals that seemed to suggest that people with certain political beliefs should be immune to legal sanctions, or even call for release of suspects who have been arrested by the Hong Kong SAR law enforcement agencies in accordance with the law.

    Moreover, it elucidated that it will, as always, resolutely, fully and faithfully implement the HKNSL, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and other relevant laws safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong SAR, to effectively prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security in accordance with the law.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government added that it will uphold the rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people in accordance with the law, so as to ensure the steadfast and successful implementation of the principle of “one country, two systems”.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: June 10th, 2025 Ranking Member Martin Heinrich Statement on Trump Administration’s Attack on America’s National Monuments, Undermining the Law

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in response to an opinion issued by the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice asserting that Presidents can modify or revoke national monument designations made using the Antiquities Act of 1906. This position contradicts long-held views of the Justice Department dating back to 1938. 

    “At Donald Trump’s order, his Justice Department is attempting to clear a path to erase national monuments.   

    “Here’s what they don’t understand: Our national monuments are about who we are. They tell the story of our ancestors, support jobs and our rural economies, and connect Americans to our history and the land itself. No president can erase that. 

    “I will oppose any attempt by President Trump or Congressional Republicans to rip away our national monuments, using this outrageous path or otherwise. We’re ready to fight back — and we won’t back down.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for delegation led by Chair Battistel of French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for delegation led by Chair Battistel of French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group

    Date：2025-06-09
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 9, 2025  
    No. 204  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on June 9 to welcome a delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, Chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. He extended appreciation to the French Parliament for its staunch support and close friendship with Taiwan.
     
    In his speech, Minister Lin congratulated Ms. Battistel on her election as chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group earlier this year and thanked the French Parliament for its long-standing and cross-party support of Taiwan, including the overwhelming endorsement in a resolution in 2021 supporting Taiwan’s international participation, the passage of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023 supporting freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait, and its enthusiastic response to sending a joint letter to the director-general of the World Health Organization in May backing Taiwan’s bid. Minister Lin noted that Europe’s support for Taiwan was crucial, that Taiwan-France relations continued to grow and thrive, and that there was great potential to deepen collaboration between Taiwan and France in key technological domains and innovative industries. He expressed hope that the two sides would further contribute to global prosperity and development through closer exchanges and cooperation in the future.
     
    In her speech, Chair Battistel said that she was honored to serve as chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group and emphasized that she would continue to lead the group in its steadfast support of Taiwan, in line with French values and global common interests. She indicated that China’s threats and attempts to suppress Taiwan had had wide-ranging impacts on the world and urged democratic countries to jointly support Taiwan. She added that she believed Taiwan’s participation in international organizations was pivotal and that the entire international community stood to benefit from Taiwan’s knowledge and experience.
     
    This is the second delegation from the French National Assembly to visit Taiwan this year, following a visit in May by Guillaume Kasbarian, former French Minister of Civil Service and member of the National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. 
     
    At the invitation of Minister Lin, Professor Lee Hahn-ming of the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, along with Wu Min-hsuan, CEO of Doublethink Lab, attended the luncheon and exchanged views with the delegation on such issues as how Taiwan and France could jointly cope with the use of artificial intelligence by foreign forces to manipulate information. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Convicted Connecticut Child Sex Offender Sentenced To 30 Years In Federal Prison For Attempted Child Enticement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Andrew Thomas Bull (37, Tolland, CT), a/k/a Andrew Thomas Picard, to 30 years in federal prison for attempting to entice an 11-year-old child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing photos of her own sexual abuse. The court also ordered Bull to serve a 10-year term of supervised release and forfeit the electronic device that he used to commit this offense. Bull is a convicted sex offender who was convicted of importation and possession of child pornography in Connecticut in 2013, and was on court-ordered probation when he was arrested on May 25, 2023. Bull was detained and transported to Jacksonville. He pleaded guilty on February 18, 2025.  

    According to court documents, on November 15, 2022, an FBI agent (UC) in the Jacksonville area was conducting an online undercover operation to identify adults seeking to meet and engage in sexual activity with children. The UC posted a text message in a public chat room on a social media application (app) indicating that the UC had access to an 11-year-old “child.” Later that same day, user “brdr1066,” subsequently identified as Bull, contacted the UC directly using the private online text messaging feature of the app. Bull asked the UC to confirm the age and sexual experience of the “child.” Bull sent the UC explicit photos of himself to show to the “child.” Between November 2022 and May 2023, during text conversations on the app, Bull confirmed his desire to have sex with the “child,” and he sent the UC photos depicting young children being sexually abused. He solicited the UC to take and send to Bull pornographic photos of the “child,” and directed the UC as to how the UC could accomplish this. On May 9, 2023, Bull asked the UC, “do i get live pics tonight? / before she goes to bed hopefully / you ask to see her [genitalia] yet?”

    On May 25, 2023, FBI agents arrested Bull and executed a federal search warrant at his residence. A search of Bull’s cellphone revealed that it contained at least 15 videos and 40 photos depicting children being sexually abused, including an infant. 

    “Protecting kids from predators is among the most important work that we do at the FBI,” said Jason Carley, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “Let this case be a warning – the FBI is relentless in our efforts to identify and stop child predators from abusing our kids.”          

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and New Haven, Connecticut. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys D. Rodney Brown and Kelly S. Milliron.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, locate, and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. 

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Doctor at L5 Pain Clinic Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison, Ordered to Pay $35,000 Fine and $200,000 in Forfeiture

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    ROANOKE, Va. – A former doctor, who concealed health care fraud and prescribed highly-addictive opioid painkillers to at-risk patients at pain clinics in Central and Southwest Virginia, was sentenced yesterday to 40 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $200,000 in forfeiture and a $35,000 fine.

    Duane Dixon, 66, of Bedford, Massachusetts, pled guilty in 2023 to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and other opioids without a legitimate medical purpose and failing to report a pattern of health care fraud at clinics operated by L5 Medical Holdings—an LLC which was doing business as Pain Care Center, a line of pain clinics that formerly operated in Woodlawn, Lynchburg, Madison Heights, Blacksburg, and Christiansburg.

    Dixon agreed as part of his plea agreement to surrender his medical licenses and to never practice medicine again.

    “Duane Dixon prioritized profit over patient care,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “Our nation is fighting an opioid epidemic on a scale we have never seen and doctors like this, who take advantage of the addictions of others for their own greed, must be held accountable.”

    “We will not tolerate anyone who abuses their position and betrays the trust of American citizens by exploiting their vulnerabilities. Dr. Dixon clearly showed a lack of respect for human life, as his reckless and fraudulent practices prioritize profits over the delicate lives of others. Our team is dedicated to the safety and well-being of all individuals across the nation. This commitment includes ensuring that licensed professionals adhere to the law and report any hazardous conduct,” DEA Washington Division Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian said.

    “This doctor betrayed his oath, exploited vulnerable Virginians, and pumped dangerous opioids into our neighborhoods, fueling addiction and tearing families apart. His selfish, reckless scheme contributed to the opioid epidemic and left entire communities to deal with the devastating consequences. Virginia’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit will continue to aggressively pursue any healthcare provider who abandons their oath, preys on vulnerable patients, and fuels addiction for profit,” said Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares.

    “The defendant’s illegal prescribing practices and violation of public trust endangered patients and took advantage of the addiction of others, all for personal gain,” said Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Philadelphia Regional Office. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure individuals involved in schemes that threaten patient safety and target our most vulnerable populations are held accountable.”

    According to testimony and court documents, Dixon pre-signed dozens of blank prescriptions over several years at L5.  With Dixon’s knowledge, staff filled out the prescriptions for Schedule II opioids, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and distributed them to patients who had not seen a qualified medical provider.  Dixon admitted to agents that, shortly after starting work at L5, a local pharmacist said he was a “pill pusher” and L5 was a “pill mill,” and some pharmacies refused to fill his prescriptions.

    As part of his guilty pleas, Dixon agreed he facilitated illegal distribution of Suboxone by other medical providers who lacked the authority to prescribe the drug.  Dixon did so by sharing his unique identification number, which is necessary to prescribe controlled substances, with those unqualified providers for them to use when relaying prescriptions to pharmacists.

    Additionally, to obtain insurance payments, Dixon acknowledged in interviews and court filings he approved and signed patient files for patients he had not actually treated.

    The other doctor whose records Dixon falsified—former Dr. Wendell Lewis Randall—was sentenced in March 2024 to 18 months in prison for his role and was known to Dixon and others within L5 to issue medically illegitimate prescriptions.  In a recorded interview played at sentencing, Dixon stated Randall’s patient file notes were “lousy,” did not “justify[] why” Randall “was giving the pain medications,” and would have been insufficient even for a medical student.

    In addition to Dixon and Randall, five others have pled guilty in connection with drug or fraud crimes at L5 between 2015 and 2020. Charles Wilson Adams, Jr.—falsely held out by L5 as a trained medical professional—was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment in 2022.  Nurse practitioner Debra Shaffer received jailtime and a fine in 2023.

    L5 owner John Gregory Barnes, former COO Jennifer Adams, and L5 itself have also pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing later this year.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General, the Virginia State Police, and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office – Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case.

    Assistant United States Attorneys S. Cagle Juhan, Jason Scheff and Special Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant Attorney General Janine Myatt prosecuted the case for the United States. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Belgium: Independent UN body finds systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    The UN International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement called on Belgium to take concrete steps to address the legacies of its colonial past and fight what it said was widespread, systematic racism that still permeates the nation today.

    The call came on the final day of a 10-day visit that began 2 June. Experts Tracie Keesee and Victor Rodriguez visited Brussels, Namur, Charleroi, Antwerp, and Mechelen.

    “Community members told us that they want to be treated as humans, that nothing has changed and nothing is changing, that diversions and political complexities are used to keep from committing to true change,” said Keesee. “They also explained the great work they do within their communities and expressed their commitment to work with the authorities to bring about meaningful change.”

    The experts recognized several good practices; for instance, the existence of a specialized police watchdog outside of the executive power and a centralised internal police control body, as well as the grants to some civil society organizations working to combat racism. “These practices can serve as a model for other States,” Rodriguez said.

    However, the experts concluded that Africans and people of African descent, as well as other persons perceived as “foreigners” – including Belgian nationals and persons born in Belgium – face systemic racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

    “Systemic racism permeates all sectors of society, including in law enforcement and the criminal justice system,” said Keesee. “It is a legacy of enslavement and colonialism, whose long-lasting impacts continue to be felt today. Belgium must continue to take concrete steps towards reparatory justice by confronting the legacies of its history, with the effective participation of affected communities.”

    The Mechanism heard testimonies of racial profiling and of excessive use of force by the police against Africans and people of African descent, including against children. “These cases are a clear illustration of systemic racism against these communities, which severely impacts trust in law enforcement institutions,” Rodriguez said.

    The Mechanism also witnessed very good community policing practices, which it said should be expanded and strengthened. “We visited police zones that have wonderful practices to bring the police closer to the population and vice versa, including programmes that encourage racialized and vulnerable young people to join the police, something that is lacking in Belgium,” Keesee said.

    The experts emphasized how the challenging and stressful nature of law enforcement work directly affects the mental health and well-being of officers, and how this can impact the way they perform their duty and their interactions with the communities they serve. “Peer support groups, and mental health resources should be readily available in support of officers,” Keesee said.

    The Mechanism also addressed overcrowding in prisons with disproportionate incarceration of Africans, people of African descent, and people of foreign origin. It noted the use of prisons for administrative migration detention and as mental health detention facilities.

    The experts thanked the Government for its invitation and for the smooth cooperation in organizing the visit. They also thanked all institutions and stakeholders who met with them and provided valuable information.

    During their visit, members of the Mechanism met with a wide range of governmental stakeholders, including police departments, federal and regional ministries and authorities, city authorities, and other specialized organs, including the Standing Commission of the Local Police, the Committee P, and the General Inspectorate of the Federal and Local Police.

    The experts also met human rights institutions, including Unia, the Flemish Institute of Human Rights, and the Federal Institute of Human Rights, and visited the Museum of Central Africa in Tervuren and the memorial museum of Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen. They also visited the administrative detention centre for migrants “Caricole,” the Namur prison, and the local police zones of PolBru and BruWest, in Brussels.

    The Mechanism shared its preliminary observations and recommendations with the Belgian Government earlier today. The full findings of its visit will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council at its 60th session in September/October 2025.

    – on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Velázquez Leads NY House Democrats in Urging Passage of New York for All Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nydia M Velázquez (D-NY)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) led nine members of New York’s Congressional delegation in a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie urging the immediate passage of the New York for All Act. The legislation would prohibit collaboration between local and state government agencies and federal immigration enforcement, helping to protect immigrant families in New York from Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

    “As members of New York’s Congressional Delegation, we believe that all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, must be able to participate in their communities, provide for their families, and access critical support without intimidation,” the lawmakers wrote.

    In the letter, the lawmakers urge state leaders to protect immigrant communities in New York in the face of a nationwide immigration crackdown and increasingly aggressive tactics by the Trump administration.

    “We cannot stand idly by while our constituents and colleagues are ensnared by the Trump Administration’s mass deportation dragnet,” the lawmakers continued. “New York must be clear that it will establish critical guardrails to prevent local and state resources from being used for Trump’s mass deportation agenda.”

    The New York for All Act would ensure that no New Yorker has to fear detention or deportation when accessing essential services, working with local government, or interacting with law enforcement. It does not prohibit ICE from enforcing federal law, nor does it limit local police from addressing criminal matters—it simply ensures New York’s resources are not diverted for federal deportation operations.

    “We urge the New York State Legislature to reject Trump’s efforts to scapegoat our most vulnerable neighbors as a pretense for dismantling our core democratic institutions,” the lawmakers concluded.

    In addition to Rep. Velázquez, the letter was signed by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), George Latimer (NY-16), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-11), Grace Meng (NY-06), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15).

    For a full copy of the letter, click here.

    We are deeply thankful for today’s call by Congresswoman Velázquez and eight additional members of the New York Congressional delegation for standing with us in imploring our state legislature to pass the New York for All Act now to protect New Yorkers from Trump’s mass deportation agenda,” said Linda Flor Brito, Senior Policy and Campaigns Organizer with the Immigrant Defense Project. “ICE entanglement with state and local agencies enables the separation of families, and further perpetuates a cruel double punishment of New Yorkers who are funneled from state prison sentences to ICE. To stop being complicit in this suffering, the legislature must pass New York for All – today – to create meaningful safety for all.”

     

    “We thank Congressmember Velázquez and her New York colleagues for urging State lawmakers to pass the New York for All Act before session ends,” said Rosa Cohen-Cruz, Immigration Policy Director at The Bronx Defenders. “As public defenders who helped build the nation’s first immigrant defense program in New York City, we know that disentangling local law enforcement from ICE builds trust and makes all New Yorkers safer. It’s time for New York to lead with dignity and stand against the Trump-era playbook of fear and disappearance.”

     

    Rosie Wang, program manager at the Vera Institute of Justice’s Advancing Universal Representation initiative, said: “We applaud the members of the New York Congressional delegation who have shown up for immigrant communities and urged state leadership to swiftly pass the New York for All Act. New York for All would prevent state and local resources from being diverted to assist cruel and escalating federal immigration enforcement. These resources should be invested in strengthening our communities and keeping families safe, rather than tearing them apart. This legislation has never been so urgently needed, and time is running out to protect New York families and preserve trust in state and local institutions. New York State must pass New York for All now, before this legislative window closes, to take this critically needed step in defense of our values and immigrant communities.” 

     

    “Leaders can’t just let the Trump administration wreak havoc on New York’s immigrant communities — the New York For All Act must pass now,” said Zach Ahmad, Senior Policy Counsel at the New York Civil Liberties Union. “Between raiding workplaces, detaining children, and busting down people’s doors without a warrant, this anti-immigrant administration is hellbent on terrorizing New York’s immigrant communities. The Congressional leaders supporting New York 4 All are spot on: New Yorkers deserve to feel safe and protected — not watch the very people who are elected to keep them safe prioritize political interests over their wellbeing.”

     

    Luba Cortes, Civil Rights and Immigration Lead Organizer at Make the Road New York, said, “In a climate of unprecedented ICE enforcement, and the administration’s reckless abuse of power to carry out its mass deportation agenda, state officials must take strong measures to ensure that our immigrant neighbors are safe. We thank the members of the New York Congressional Delegation for showing tremendous leadership by urging state lawmakers to pass the New York for All before the end of the legislative session. All New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, should be able to go to school, work, church, and the hospital without fear that any interaction with law enforcement could lead to them being ripped away from their loved ones and funneled into deportation proceedings.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. David Scott and Greg Murphy Lead 80+ Members Urging Secretary Doug Collins to Protect VA Anesthesia Care Standards

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

    WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman David Scott (GA-13) and Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) sent a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Doug Collins, urging the Department to preserve the highest standards of anesthesia care for our nation’s Veterans. The bipartisan letter was signed by more than 85 Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    “After years of reviews and agency listening sessions, we know that removing physicians during anesthesia care, strips away a critical layer of medical expertise—particularly during high-risk or emergency scenarios where seconds matter and complications are unpredictable,” said Congressman David Scott. “I expressed deep concern with the previous Administration’s effort to diminish and depart from universally agreed upon anesthesia care standards, independent data, and the very voices of our Veterans who remain firmly opposed to this dangerous initiative. Secretary Collins can protect the integrity of the VA’s anesthesia standards and reaffirm the agency’s firm commitment to medical excellence. Veterans earned that commitment through their service. It would be unconscionable to think the government is now planning to compromise their care.”

    “Our veterans deserve the highest standard of care, including careful oversight by trained physicians,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “The trend in medicine to allow nurses to assume certain responsibilities that medical doctors are trained to do is dangerous. The attempt to cut costs is noble, but doing so at the expense of quality and safety is unacceptable. I urge Secretary Collins to reconsider the proposed policy change that would authorize nurse-only anesthetic care without physician oversight.”

    The 2025 letter comes in response to a VA department proposal to eliminate physician anesthesiologists from surgical anesthesia teams and adopt a “nurse-only” model. Currently, VA policy ensures that a physician anesthesiologist leads a team of certified registered nurse anesthetists, working together to deliver safe, high-quality anesthesia care to veterans. This collaborative model is the standard of care at the nation’s leading medical institutions, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, and Emory University Hospitals, and is mandated by law in 46 states.

    Cosigners (84) David Scott (GA), Greg Murphy (NC), Amodei (NV), Babin (TX), Barr (KY), Bean (FL), Bell (MO), Bice (OK), Boyle (PA), Bresnahan (PA), J. Brownley (CA), Burchett (TN), Carson (IN), Cisneros (CA), Yvette Clarke (NY), Conaway (NJ), Correa (CA), Crockett (TX), Cuellar (TX), Danny Davis (IL), De La Cruz (TX), Dunn (FL), Edwards (NC), Estes (KS), Ezell (MS), Feenstra (IA), Figures (AL), Fine (FL), Foushee (NC), Garbarino (NY), Gillen (NY), Gooden (TX), Griffiths (VA), Hamadeh (AZ), Andy Harris (MD), Mark Harris (NC), Hudson (NC), Hurd (CO), Jonathan Jackson (IL), Julie Johnson (TX), Hank Johnson (GA), John Joyce (PA), Kennedy (UT), Knott (NC), Krishnamoorthi (IL), Lawler (NY), Letlow (LA), Lieu (CA), Loudermilk (GA), Lutrell (TX), Mace (SC), Malliotakis (NY), McBath (GA), McCollum (MN), McCormick (GA), McDowell (NC), Messmer (IN), Meuser (PA), Miller-Meeks (IA), Moolenaar (MI), Barry Moore (AL), Tim Moore (NC), Morelle (NY), Newhouse (WA), Norman (SC), Olszewski (MD), Onder (MO), Owens (UT), Rouzer (NC), Rulli (OH), Salazar (FL), Schweikert (AZ), Austin Scott (GA), Sessions (TX), Strickland (WA), Suozzi (NY), Tenney (NY), Timmons (SC), Tlaib (MI), Turner (OH), Van Drew (NJ), Van Duyne (TX), Wagner (MO), Webster (FL)

    View a copy of the letter HERE.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with Ireland

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 11, 2025

    • The Irish economy has performed well and entered 2025 in a strong position.
    • The domestic economy is projected to continue growing, albeit at a slower pace in a highly uncertain global environment.
    • There are significant external downside risks to growth and public finances, which are vulnerable to external trade and tax policy shifts.

    Washington, DC: On June 6, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Article IV Consultation for Ireland.[1]

    The Irish economy has performed well. The domestic economy, as measured by the Modified Gross National Income, is estimated to have grown by about 4 percent in 2024. Robust consumption and strong net exports, dominated by foreign multinational enterprises (MNEs), contributed positively to growth. Headline inflation has fallen to target, while service inflation has been more persistent. The labor market remains tight, although pressures appear to be easing. The general government balance continued to register a sizeable surplus in 2024, supported by large corporate income tax receipts from multinational enterprises. Bank lending growth has strengthened, largely driven by housing and consumer loans.

    The domestic economy is projected to continue to grow, though at a slower pace in a highly uncertain global environment. The strong labor market and rising real incomes, as well as anticipated pick up in housing investment and government capital spending would support domestic demand. While the direct effect of the announced tariff measures is projected to be contained, heightened global uncertainty would though weigh on household and business spending decisions.

    There are significant downside risks to the growth outlook. The concentration of activity in a small number of MNEs leaves the economy and public finances vulnerable to external trade and tax policy shifts and firm- or sector-specific shocks. More broadly, a sustained reversal of globalization would put at risk the Irish economic model which has benefitted from free trade and capital flows. Domestically, supply-side constraints could delay the attainment of infrastructure and housing goals.

    Executive Board Assessment[2]

    Executive Directors welcomed the strong economic performance, which has been underpinned by robust domestic demand and prudent policies. Directors highlighted that while the outlook remains positive, there are considerable downside risks, given high global uncertainty and Ireland’s significant exposure to trade and investment shocks. Accordingly, Directors emphasized the need to maintain fiscal prudence, safeguard financial stability, and advance structural reforms to support resilience and growth.

    Directors recommended that fiscal policy continue to focus on building buffers, stepping up public investment, and reducing revenue uncertainty. Noting that the economy is operating at full capacity, Directors agreed that a broadly neutral fiscal stance with increased capital expenditure is appropriate as it would allow Ireland to address infrastructure needs without adding to aggregate demand. Important measures include enhancing public spending efficiency and broadening the tax base to reduce reliance on uncertain corporate tax revenue. Directors agreed that Ireland would benefit from a strengthened national fiscal framework that further ensures long-term fiscal sustainability and enhances the credibility and predictability of fiscal policy.

    Directors recognized the resilience of the financial sector, while underscoring the importance of continued close monitoring of financial stability risks. Noting the high global uncertainty, Directors emphasized the need for continued vigilance, as shocks to the non-bank sector could be transmitted to other parts of the financial system and the real economy. Directors agreed that the macroprudential stance is appropriate and that measures should continue to be reassessed as conditions evolve. While welcoming progress on reducing risks from the non-bank sector, Directors urged continued efforts to improve regulation and supervision and address data gaps in collaboration with international regulators and other jurisdictions.

    Directors emphasized the importance of enhancing resilience and competitiveness, amid external policy shifts and deepening geoeconomic fragmentation. Measures to promote linkages between domestic and multinational firms in innovation cooperation and improve infrastructure would help foster increased competitiveness. Directors also encouraged continued engagement in the EU to further strengthen the single market. Noting the potential dividends for growth, Directors acknowledged that Ireland is well-positioned to harness the benefits of digitalization and AI. They also highlighted the need to address supply-side constraints in housing, including by boosting productivity in the construction sector and enhancing housing policy certainty.

    Ireland: Selected Economic Indicators, 2021–30
         

    Projections

    		  
     

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030
     

    (Annual percentage change, constant prices, unless otherwise indicated)
     

    Output/Demand

    		                    

    Real GDP 1/

    16.3

    8.6

    -5.5

    1.2

    3.2

    2.1

    2.1

    2.2

    2.1

    2.3

    Real GNI* (growth rate) 2/

    13.9

    4.6

    5.0

    3.7

    2.4

    2.2

    2.0

    2.2

    2.3

    2.3

    Domestic demand

    -16.4

    8.0

    6.0

    -11.9

    7.6

    2.4

    2.4

    2.4

    2.5

    2.5

    Public consumption                 

    6.3

    3.0

    4.3

    4.3

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    Private consumption                 

    8.9

    10.7

    4.8

    2.3

    2.3

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.1

    2.1

    Gross fixed capital formation

    -39.4

    3.7

    2.8

    -25.4

    20.0

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0

    3.0

    Exports of goods and services

    14.1

    13.5

    -5.8

    11.7

    3.1

    2.2

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    Imports of goods and services

    -8.7

    16.0

    1.2

    6.5

    4.9

    2.4

    2.8

    2.7

    2.8

    2.7

    Output gap

    3.4

    3.1

    1.0

    1.2

    0.9

    0.6

    0.3

    0.1

    0.0

    0.0
                         

    Contribution to Growth

    		                    

    Domestic demand

    -13.1

    4.7

    3.5

    -7.7

    4.4

    1.4

    1.4

    1.4

    1.5

    1.5

    Consumption

    3.0

    3.0

    1.6

    1.1

    1.0

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    0.9

    Gross fixed capital formation

    -16.3

    0.8

    0.6

    -5.9

    3.4

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    Inventories

    0.2

    0.9

    1.3

    -3.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Net exports

    29.1

    3.3

    -9.1

    9.3

    -1.0

    0.7

    0.7

    0.8

    0.7

    0.8

    Residual

    0.3

    0.6

    0.1

    -0.3

    -0.2

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0
                         

    Prices

    		                    

    Inflation (HICP)

    2.4

    8.1

    5.2

    1.3

    1.9

    1.7

    1.8

    1.9

    2.0

    2.0

    Inflation (HICP, core)

    1.6

    5.0

    5.1

    2.4

    2.1

    2.2

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    2.0

    GDP deflator

    1.1

    6.8

    3.6

    3.3

    1.9

    1.4

    1.8

    2.1

    2.0

    2.0
                         

    Employment

    		                    

    Employment (% changes of level, ILO definition)

    6.5

    6.9

    3.4

    2.7

    1.5

    1.1

    0.8

    0.6

    0.6

    0.6

    Unemployment rate (percent)

    6.3

    4.5

    4.3

    4.3

    4.5

    4.7

    4.8

    4.8

    4.8

    4.8
                         
     

    (Percent of GDP)

    Public Finance, General Government

    		                    

    Revenue

    22.2

    22.3

    24.3

    27.8

    25.6

    25.7

    25.7

    26.1

    26.2

    26.2

    Expenditure

    23.5

    20.6

    22.7

    23.5

    24.2

    24.4

    24.6

    24.8

    24.9

    25.0

    Overall balance

    -1.4

    1.7

    1.5

    4.3

    1.4

    1.3

    1.1

    1.3

    1.3

    1.2

    in percent of GNI*

    -2.7

    3.3

    2.7

    7.4

    2.4

    2.3

    1.9

    2.3

    2.3

    2.0

    Primary balance

    -0.6

    2.3

    2.2

    4.9

    2.0

    1.9

    1.7

    2.0

    2.1

    2.0

    Cyclically adjusted primary balance

    -1.6

    1.4

    1.9

    4.4

    1.7

    1.7

    1.6

    1.9

    2.1

    2.0

    Structural primary balance 3/

    -0.6

    -0.6

    -0.4

    -0.8

    -0.9

    -0.9

    -0.9

    -0.8

    -0.7

    -0.7

    General government gross debt

    52.6

    43.1

    43.3

    40.9

    36.4

    34.4

    33.1

    31.6

    30.2

    29.0

    General government gross debt (percent of GNI*)

    102.3

    84.2

    75.9

    70.0

    62.8

    59.3

    57.1

    54.5

    52.1

    50.1
                         

    Balance of Payments

    		                    

    Trade balance (goods)

    37.5

    39.4

    30.6

    33.1

    36.6

    36.1

    35.7

    35.6

    35.8

    35.8

    Current account balance

    12.2

    8.8

    8.1

    17.2

    12.2

    11.6

    11.1

    10.6

    9.9

    9.2

    Gross external debt (excl. IFSC) 4/

    284.9

    229.9

    218.9

    198.0

    179.9

    166.4

    153.3

    140.6

    129.3

    118.9
                         

    Saving and Investment Balance

    		                    

    Gross national savings

    35.3

    31.7

    34.4

    34.6

    31.5

    30.9

    30.3

    29.9

    29.3

    28.8

    Private sector

    35.5

    29.0

    31.8

    29.2

    29.1

    28.6

    28.4

    27.7

    27.2

    26.8

    Public sector

    -0.2

    2.7

    2.6

    5.3

    2.4

    2.2

    2.0

    2.2

    2.2

    2.0

    Gross capital formation

    23.1

    22.9

    26.3

    17.4

    19.3

    19.2

    19.3

    19.2

    19.4

    19.5
                         
                         

    Memorandum Items:

    		                    

    Nominal GDP (€ billions)

    449.2

    520.9

    510.0

    533.4

    561.2

    581.1

    603.9

    630.2

    656.8

    685.2

    Nominal GNI* (€ billions)

    230.8

    267.0

    290.9

    311.8

    325.3

    337.0

    349.8

    364.9

    380.7

    397.2

    Modified domestic demand (percentage change) 5/

    8.0

    8.8

    2.6

    2.7

    2.1

    2.1

    2.2

    2.2

    2.3

    2.3
                         

    Sources: CSO, DoF, Eurostat, and IMF staff estimates and projections.

    		      

    1/ Real GDP growth is reported in non-seasonally adjusted terms. 

    		  

    2/ Nominal GNI* is deflated using GDP deflator as proxy, since an official GNI* deflator is not available.

    		      

    3/ Excludes estimated windfall CIT receipts. In 2024 also excludes CIT receipts of 2.5 percent of GDP following judgment by the Court of Justice of the EU.

    		  

    4/ IFSC indicates international financial services.

    		      

    5/ Modified Domestic Demand (MDD) measures Ireland’s domestic economic activity by excluding certain capital investment items such as aeroplanes purchased by leasing companies in Ireland and Intellectual Property purchases of foreign-owned corporations from final domestic demand.

    		  

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] At the conclusion of the discussion, the Managing Director, as Chairman of the Board, summarizes the views of Executive Directors, and this summary is transmitted to the country’s authorities. An explanation of any qualifiers used in summings up can be found here: http://www.IMF.org/external/np/sec/misc/qualifiers.htm.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Camila Perez

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/10/pr25189-ireland-imf-executive-board-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation-with-ireland

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NPCC statement on Spending Review

    Source: United Kingdom National Police Chiefs Council

    Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC Chair, responds to the Government’s Spending Review.

    Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC chair, said: “We recognise that the Government faces tough financial choices. In the face of these challenges, it’s now more important than ever that police chiefs and government continue to unite behind radical reform for policing, and crucially, give forces the flexibility they need to modernise their workforce.

    “Despite the news today, our ambition to tackle violence against women and girls, reduce knife crime and build confidence in local policing remains.

    “However, it is clear that this is an incredibly challenging outcome for policing. In real terms, today’s increase in funding will cover little more than annual inflationary pay increases for officers and staff.

    “Whilst we await further detail on allocation to individual forces, the amount falls far short of what is required to fund the Government’s ambitions and maintain our existing workforce.

    “A decade of underinvestment has left police forces selling buildings, borrowing money and raising local taxes to maintain the what we already have, with forces facing a projected shortfall of £1.2bn over the next two years, which is now expected to rise.

    “This is against a backdrop of increasing crime rates, with new and escalating threats from organised crime and hostile states, and more offenders being managed in the community as a result of an overstretched criminal justice system.

    “Cutting crime isn’t just about officer numbers – we need specialist skills and people, supported with the right systems and technology, to better protect communities.

    “We fully support the Government’s drive to cut crime and grow officer numbers, but for these to succeed, investment in policing must live up to the ambition.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McCaul Returns from Middle East with Bipartisan Delegation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

    WASHINGTON – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Emeritus Michael McCaul (R-Texas) returned from a congressional delegation (CODEL) trip to the Middle East. The delegation was led by Congressman Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, and joined by Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), ranking member of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. The congressmembers met with heads of state, defense officials, and diplomats in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Kingdom of Jordan.

    Building on the momentum of President Trump’s recent visit to the region, the CODEL engaged with regional leaders to advance shared interests, address ongoing challenges, and reinforce America’s commitment to peace in the Middle East. They also explored new opportunities for economic cooperation and investment, especially in AI and emerging technologies across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.

    “Amidst President Trump’s efforts to end the war in Gaza and secure normalization agreements, I was honored to visit several of our allies and partners in the Middle East,” said Chair Emeritus McCaul. “These nations will play pivotal roles in shaping the future of the region — a future defined by peace and prosperity. I am grateful to our friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the Kingdom of Jordan for welcoming us, and I look forward to our continued partnership with these regional leaders as we work toward greater peace and stability across the Middle East.” 

    “This CODEL served as a vital opportunity to strengthen our alliances, confront shared threats, and demonstrate bipartisan American leadership in support of our partners,” said Congressman Lawler. “As Chairman of the MENA Subcommittee, I remain committed to deepening U.S. engagement in the region and working with our partners to build a more secure, prosperous, and stable Middle East.”

    In Riyadh, the delegation held high-level meetings with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs H.E. Adel Al-Jubeir and engaged with key U.S. defense and technology companies.

    On Memorial Day, while in Saudi Arabia, McCaul met with and thanked airmen from the 317th Airlift Wing out of Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, who are operating in the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

    In Israel, the delegation met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and received a briefing at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem on U.S.-Israel missile defense cooperation.

    In Jordan, the delegation met His Majesty King Abdullah II and senior cabinet officials to reinforce the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Jordan.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Dexter, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Repeal Gun Industry’s Legal Liability Shield

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)

    June 11, 2025

    Legislation would give victims of gun violence legal avenues to hold manufacturers accountable for negligence in court

    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas and Maxine Dexter, said today they have joined colleagues in introducing legislation that would ensure victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety.

    The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act—co-sponsored by the Oregon lawmakers—would repeal a 2005 federal law that gives gun manufacturers a unique and unjustifiable legal liability shield that protects them from lawsuits. 

    “It is absolutely unacceptable that this industry is absolutely immune from any accountability,” Wyden said. “Other industries are subject to scrutiny for the safety and use of their products, and I believe Congress should enact common-sense gun safety regulations like the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act.”

    “As we continue to face a nationwide gun violence crisis, we must ensure that gun companies and gun sellers are held accountable when their negligence costs lives,” Merkley said. “For the sake of all those who have lost loved ones to this tragic epidemic, we must take our pain and grief and turn it into real action, with the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act and other common-sense gun safety reforms.”

    “Gun violence is a leading cause of death in the country, yet unscrupulous gun companies and gun sellers continue to evade accountability because of a legal shield passed two decades ago. I am grateful to join my colleagues in this long-overdue effort to overturn this misguided law and allow gun violence victims to seek justice,” Bonamici said.

    “Current laws give negligent gun makers unprecedented special treatment that shields them from accountability for malpractice, leaving victims of gun violence without recourse in the courts. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act is a way for Congress to stand up for victims of gun violence through our judicial system,” Salinas said.

    “As a mother, I’ll never forget the terror of not being able to reach my daughter while she was in lockdown for over 12 hours during a mass shooting at the University of Virginia. As a physician, I’ve held the hands of patients and families devastated by gun violence. And as someone who has volunteered with Moms Demand Action and served on gun violence prevention task forces, I know this crisis demands urgent action. No other industry gets a free pass when their negligence leads to death. Repealing PLCAA is a necessary step to give survivors and families their day in court and to finally hold the gun industry accountable—just like every other industry. I’m proud to support the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act,” said Dexter.

    When Congress in 2005 passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) giving the gun industry legal liability, its supporters argued it was necessary to protect the gun industry from frivolous lawsuits, and that victims of gun violence would not be shut out of the courts. In reality, numerous cases around the nation have been dismissed based on this law, even when the gun dealers and manufacturers acted in a fashion that would qualify as negligent if it involved any other product. Victims in these cases were denied the right to even discover or introduce evidence. This Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act allows civil cases to go forward against irresponsible bad actors.

     In 2005, the National Rifle Association identified PLCAA as its “number one” legislative priority, and celebrated its passage by calling it the “most significant piece of pro-gun legislation in twenty years.” Letting courts hear these cases would provide justice to victims and their families, while creating incentives for responsible business practices that would reduce injuries and deaths. Effectively, the gun industry would once again be subject to the same laws as every other industry, just as it was prior to 2005.

    The legislation is endorsed by Brady, GIFFORDS Law Center, Everytown for Gun Safety, March for Our Lives, Guns Down America, Newtown Action Alliance, and Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund.

    The legislation was led in the Senate by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is also co-sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Conn., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

    The legislation was led in the House by U.S. Representatives Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., Jason Crow, D-Colo., Dwight Evans, D-Pa., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif. In addition to Bonamici, Salinas and Dexter, the legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo, D-R.I., Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass., Wesley Bell, D-Mo., Don Beyer, D-Va., Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, Julia Brownley, D-Calif., Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., Sean Casten, D-Ill., Judy Chu, D-Calif., Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., Danny Davis, D-Ill., Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., Mark DeSaulnier, D-Calif., Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., John Garamendi, D-Calif., Daniel Goldman, D-N.Y., Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Hank Johnson, D-Ga., Robin Kelly, D-Ill., Timothy Kennedy, D-N.Y., Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., Betty McCollum, D-Minn., LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., Kelly Morrison, D-Minn., Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., Scott Peters, D-Calif., Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, Mike Quigley, D-Ill., Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Brad Schneider, D-Ill., David Scott, D-Ga., Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., Dina Titus, D-Nev., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii.

    The full text of the bill is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Chu Co-Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Senate to Take up Taiwan Double Tax Relief Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) joined Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, in leading a bipartisan letter to Senate leaders urging them to promptly consider the United States–Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act. This legislation would eliminate burdensome double taxation between the United States and Taiwan, which is one of our largest and most important trading partners, and is a key step toward strengthening our economic partnership. Rep. Chu has long advocated for this legislation as a member of the Ways and Means Committee. 

    The letter was signed by Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ).

    “The United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act is essential to U.S. economic and national security interests and would have immediate, tangible benefits in fostering U.S.- Taiwan commerce and mitigate double taxation imposed on multinational businesses, investors, and workers. By removing double taxation with Taiwan, we can unlock new investment into the United States—especially from Taiwan’s world-class advanced manufacturing sector,” wrote the Members. 

    This bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the 118th and 119th Congresses. Lawmakers are now urging swift Senate action to ensure the bill becomes law without delay.

    The letter can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Officers start digging into hazardous waste soil crime

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Officers start digging into hazardous waste soil crime

    Hauliers in Devon and Cornwall will be asked for more detail on how they deal with waste soils.

    Environment Agency investigations have found cases where criminals have tried to profit by illegally dumping harmful waste

    Environment Agency officers are contacting hauliers to ensure that the strict rules are complied with as waste soils can often contain hazardous chemicals that have sometimes ended up being dumped on land or hidden in landscaping or construction projects.

    The vast majority of businesses operate within the regulations by having registered a U1 exemption, allowing the limited use of specific types and quantities of clean waste materials in construction.

    However, detailed Environment Agency investigations, in partnership with other professional agencies, have revealed recent cases where unscrupulous criminals have attempted to profit by illegally dumping waste and causing environmental harm to their communities.

    Sue Smillie of the Environment Agency said:

    Whilst most hauliers and companies that handle waste soils operate within the laws designed to protect the environment, we have seen a rise in illegal dumping of hazardous soils and construction waste.

    After compiling information on specific sites and networks, we are now requesting further details from hauliers and waste operators on disposal routes, the amount of waste involved, what type it is and where it has ended up.

    We won’t hesitate to go after those who break laws designed to protect the environment and we welcome any information, in confidence, about associated illegal waste crime activity.

    Nationally, illegal waste activities cause significant harm to the environment and communities, costing the taxpayer and legitimate businesses nearly £1 billion each year. Recent data suggests that up to 18% of waste (about 34 million tonnes annually) may be handled illegally.

    Anyone who wants to report environmental crime, particularly involving waste soils, is encouraged to contact Crimestoppers in confidence on 0800 555 111 or directly to the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.

    Background

    Soil and stone must be characterised in accordance with Technical Guidance WM3 details. See our waste classification technical guidance on GOV.UK. If this has not been carried out the soil and stone must be considered hazardous and cannot be used under a U1 exemption.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Omar Reintroduces Package of Police Accountability Legislation

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

    WASHINGTON—Following the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder in her district, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) reintroduced a package of bills to address continued police brutality and misuse of force. The package includes crucial legislation that creates a federal agency to investigate misuse of force by police and a bill to protect protesters by making police violence against protesters a federal crime. It also includes a resolution condemning police brutality globally. 

    “In the wake of the five-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder in my district, it is clear we still need to pass bold legislation to address systemic racism embedded within policing,” said Rep. Omar. “It is our moral responsibility to do everything we can to prevent future killings and ensure that police are held fully accountable when they commit violence against civilians. This package will bring us one step closer to a future where no one will live in fear of police violence.” 

    The National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board Act – This bill establishes a federal agency responsible for investigating all nationwide deaths occurring in police custody, officer-involved shootings, and uses of force that result in severe bodily injury. The agency will conduct unbiased, independent investigations and issue determinations of responsibility and recommendations for reform that will prevent future violence. Those findings will be admissible in court. Federal funding for law enforcement activities and equipment will be curtailed if a police department fails to take meaningful action on the Board’s policy and reform recommendations. You can read the bill here. 

    The Protecting Our Protesters Act – This legislation allows any officer who kills or causes bodily harm to a civilian during the response to a protest to be charged with a federal crime. We must ensure that the constitutional right to protest is duly protected, not threatened or stifled by law enforcement officers. You can read the bill here.

    Global Police Brutality Resolution – The resolution calls on Congress to stand with peaceful protesters around the world in their calls for justice and condemns police brutality wherever in the world it occurs. You can read the bill here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Unfit officers to be banned from major law enforcement agencies

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Unfit officers to be banned from major law enforcement agencies

    Disgraced officers from law enforcement agencies are to be blocked from joining police forces in the government’s drive to raise standards within law enforcement.

    Getty Images.

    Disgraced officers from national law enforcement agencies will be blocked from joining local police forces, as the government continues its drive to raise standards and conduct within law enforcement.

    The Home Office introduced legislation yesterday to provide for a dedicated National Crime Agency (NCA) barred and advisory list within the landmark Crime and Policing Bill, as part of the Plan for Change.

    This new measure will ensure that individuals dismissed from the NCA for gross misconduct are prevented from re-entering policing or any other law enforcement role.

    In addition to the NCA, the legislation will also establish new barred and advisory lists for other special police forces, including the British Transport Police (BTP), Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), and Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). Each force’s list will be maintained by its respective authority, and law enforcement employers across England and Wales will be required to check these lists before hiring.

    Where an individual is on the barred list, law enforcement agencies will not be able to employ them. Where an individual is named on the advisory list, the employer will be obligated to take this into consideration as part of the recruitment process. 

    Expanding the number of agencies with these lists will tighten recruitment standards across law enforcement and prevent those who have been dismissed from re-entering the system in a different role. 

    Policing Minister, Dame Diana Johnson said:

    The public deserve to know that those tasked with protecting them meet the highest standards.

    Under our Safer Streets mission, and our Plan for Change, we are restoring confidence in policing by removing those who undermine it.

    This new measure ensures that officers who abuse their position in the NCA cannot resurface in other areas of policing — we will continue taking every possible step to protect the integrity of our law enforcement agencies.

    Assistant Chief Constable, Kerry Smith, Civil Nuclear Constabulary’s lead for Professionalism, said:

    We welcome the government’s move to close this legislative loophole. It will prevent those officers who fail to uphold our rigorous standards from being employed again within policing and law enforcement.

    We maintain robust vetting and professional standards, but in the rare instance of one of our officers being dismissed for gross misconduct, these measures will ensure that there is a process to ensure the public are protected and we can maintain trust and confidence in policing.

    The move follows a 2023 inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which found that some former NCA officers dismissed for gross misconduct had been able to join police forces due to gaps in current vetting procedures. The new legislation will close this loophole, further aligning the NCA with the existing police barred and advisory list system.

    The NCA barred and advisory list will be UK-wide and will be maintained by the NCA with support from the College of Policing. Police forces and other UK-wide law enforcement bodies will be required to consult the list before making recruitment decisions, ensuring that those dismissed for serious misconduct cannot re-enter the system through the back door.

    The new legislation forms part of a series of government reforms to boost public confidence in policing as part of its Safer Streets Mission and Plan for Change. It follows reforms to the Police Appeals Tribunal which will also be included in the Crime and Policing Bill, in addition to enhanced vetting and dismissal procedures that have been announced recently.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks to the Opening of the Eighteenth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Welcome to the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

    On behalf of the Secretary-General, I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for all you do to advance the rights of persons with disabilities around the world.

    A special welcome to civil society, and in particular, to the organizations led by persons with disabilities.

    Your presence fills this Hall with purpose.

    Advancing equality and expanding opportunities for people with disabilities is not only close to my heart – it is central to the vision of the Secretary-General and the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy.

    It is a test of our common values. Inclusion of persons with disabilities is also a testament to common sense.

    When persons with disabilities can fully participate in society, communities and economies are stronger.

    We know this.  And so do all those who realize the Convention.  

    In an often-divided world, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities stands as a powerful declaration: 

    Disability inclusion is fundamental to human rights — and essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

    Yet today, we face a sobering truth.

    Progress is not just slow – in some cases, it is reversing.

    The UN Disability and Development Report found that nearly all SDG indicators for persons with disabilities are off track.

    The message is stark:

    Persons with disabilities face higher poverty, greater unemployment, deeper food and health insecurity, and more limited access to education, jobs and digital technologies.

    And as this session reminds us, indigenous persons with disabilities face even greater exclusion.

    This must change.

    The Pact for the Future, adopted last year, reinforces the call for a more peaceful, inclusive, accessible and equitable world – one in which persons with disabilities play a full and equal role in advancing sustainable development, climate action and digital transformation.

    We meet today on the threshold of two vital gatherings: the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, and the Second World Summit for Social Development.

    Your deliberations will help shape those events. 

    This session focuses on three critical themes.

    How we finance change.

    How we harness technology.

    And how we honour those most often left behind: Indigenous persons with disabilities.

    Let me offer a few reflections.

    First, on funding change.

    Progress requires investment.

    Yet today, global support for disability inclusion has been cut in half – falling from $500 million to $250 million in just two years.

    Behind these figures are real lives. 

    Children with disabilities shut out of classrooms.

    Adults with disabilities who cannot get to work, if they have work at all.

    Families of persons with disabilities denied essential services.

    Women and girls with disabilities are denied sexual and reproductive health and rights.

    We need targeted investments and tailored solutions – such as microfinance, social impact bonds and public-private alliances – that address gaps in realizing the rights of persons with disabilities.

    And we must unlock capital to fund inclusion today, and build sustainable, inclusive systems for tomorrow.

    This requires advancing the Pact for the Future’s calls to recapitalize Multilateral Development Banks, provide debt relief, and reform the international financial architecture – so that developing countries can invest in systems that are inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.  

    Second, we must continue to harness the transformative power of technologies.

    Artificial intelligence is the latest frontier – and it holds immense potential to advance inclusion. 

    AI can be the difference between isolation and participation.

    And help individuals navigate the world through tools such as speech recognition, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning, screen readers, accessible navigation assistance and personalized support for daily tasks.

    But this promise comes with a warning. 

    Biases are being hardwired into algorithms.

    And regulations on accessibility of emerging technologies are sorely lacking.

    Developed countries, in particular, have a responsibility to step up support.

    Today about 70% of AI-powered assistive technologies are concentrated in developed economies.

    Without global cooperation and fair technology transfer agreements, people in the poorest countries risk being excluded – again. 

    We must ensure that AI becomes a tool for humanity, not a mirror of entrenched inequalities.

    Through the Global Digital Compact, countries have made their expectations clear: 

    AI technologies must empower all people, including persons with disabilities, and ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age.     
        
    Third, we must do more to uphold the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities.

    Persistent barriers in intersecting forms of discrimination are limiting their rights, and the disparities are stark.

    In Latin America, for example, indigenous persons with disabilities attend fewer years of school, earn half as much income, and hold fewer leadership roles.

    Indigenous women and girls with disabilities face greater rates of violence, isolation and lack of support services.

    Legal services are not accessible or are not culturally adequate for equal access to justice.

    This is not just neglect – it is erasure.

    Realizing the rights of Indigenous Persons with Disabilities requires culturally appropriate approaches – and meaningful inclusion in decision-making.

    The rallying cry has never been more fitting:  Nothing about us without us. 

    Dear friends,

    We’ve come a long way in 19 years.

    Laws have changed.

    Attitudes have shifted.

    And political realities have shifted, too.

    Armed conflict in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and elsewhere is leaving countless civilians with sustained permanent injuries and deep psychological trauma.

    Children with disabilities are especially vulnerable – Gaza alone has the highest number of child amputees in modern history.

    Families are bearing the brunt of conflicts, and communities will require inclusive and accessible rebuilding.

    Wars are draining budgets. And the foundations of multilateralism are being chiseled away by division and mistrust.

    Yet this session is proof that the world can still come together – with purpose and resolve. 

    It is a reminder that we must make sure promises made are promises kept.

    Let’s make the most of this conference – and the historic opportunities ahead – to drive action for persons with disabilities.  

    To build a world that is inclusive, accessible, and sustainable.

    And to say in one voice:

    Rights are not optional.

    They are universal. 

    They are non-negotiable.

    And they belong to all.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A field guide to ‘accelerationism’: White supremacist groups using violence to spur race war and create social chaos

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Art Jipson, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Dayton

    Demonstrators clash with counterdemonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12, 2017. AP Photo/Steve Helber

    A man named Regan Prater was charged with arson for the burning of Highlander Center in New Market, Tennessee, on May 7, 2025. The nonprofit has a long history of involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. The FBI stated in a court document that Prater participated in neo-Nazi Telegram group chats online.

    Earlier this year, Brandon Clint Russell, founder of Atomwaffen Divison, also known as the National Socialist Resistance Front, a onetime neo-Nazi terrorist organization, according to the Department of Justice, was convicted of conspiracy to damage an energy facility in Baltimore.

    In the fall of 2024, a 24-year-old man, Skyler Philippi, targeted the Nashville power grid with an explosive drone. Federal authorities allege that Philippi was motivated by white supremacist ideologies and affiliated with the extremist group the National Alliance.

    In my research on right-wing extremism over 30 years, a disturbing pattern has emerged: White supremacists and white nationalists are increasingly willing to use violence targeting critical infrastructure in an effort to destabilize society.

    Since the Ku Klux Klan’s resurgence in 1915, white supremacists have pushed for white control of society. In particular, white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups have long advocated violence to establish a white ethnostate, a proposed political entity or nation-state where residency and citizenship are exclusively limited to whites.

    In the past several years, extremists have started using the term “accelerationism” to describe their desire to create social chaos and societal collapse that leads to a race war and the destruction of liberal democratic systems, paving the way for a white ethnostate.

    What is accelerationism?

    The motivating idea behind accelerationism is that social chaos creates an opportunity for extremists to create a racially or ideologically “pure” future.

    Scholars who study extremism have used the term “accelerationism” since the 1980s, but it wasn’t widely associated with right-wing extremist violence until the late 2010s. People calling themselves “eco-fascists,” for example, often endorse mass violence as a means to reduce population and spark societal collapse.

    Accelerationism is often connected to the white replacement theory, a white nationalist conspiracy theory that falsely asserts that there is a deliberate plot to diminish the influence and power of white people by replacing them with nonwhite populations.

    While not all extremists who advocate violent confrontation use the label, the calls for violent disruption strive for the same results. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who perpetrated the Christchurch mosque shootings on March 15, 2019, in New Zealand, labeled an entire section of his online manifesto Destabilization and Accelerationism: Tactics for Victory.

    Members of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement salute and shout ‘sieg heil’ during a rally in front of the State House in Trenton, N.J., on April 16, 2011.
    AP Photo/Mel Evans

    This primer provides an overview of some of the key groups that have embraced accelerationist thinking, posing significant threats to public safety, democratic institutions and social cohesion.

    The Order

    One of the first American groups to embody this ideology was The Order – also known as Brüder Schweigen, or the Silent Brotherhood – which continues to influence newer generations of extremist organizations, both directly and indirectly.

    Robert Jay Mathews, who founded The Order in 1983, was inspired by the apocalyptic vision laid out in the novel “The Turner Diaries.” The 1978 book by William Luther Pierce – under the pseudonym Andrew Macdonald – calls for a violent, apocalyptic race war to overthrow the U.S. government and exterminate Jews, nonwhite people and political enemies. Pierce founded the National Alliance – a neo-Nazi, white supremacist organization advocating for a white ethnostate and violent revolution – in 1974.

    The call for violent insurrection and radical societal overhaul has since served as a blueprint for white supremacists and right-wing extremists.

    The Order believed the U.S. federal government was under the control of Jews and other minority groups, and it aimed to overthrow it to create a white ethnostate. The Order funded its activities through robberies, including US$3.6 million taken from an armored car near Ukiah, California, on July 19, 1984.

    Its criminal and violent actions escalated to murder, most notably the 1984 assassination of Jewish radio host Alan Berg in Denver by Order member Bruce Pierce.

    Atomwaffen Division (AWD)

    The Atomwaffen Division, one of the most violent neo-Nazi accelerationist groups in the U.S., was officially founded in October 2015 by Brandon Clint Russell, a former Florida National Guardsman.

    Russell had been active on a neo-Nazi web forum IronMarch.org since 2014 and announced the group’s formation on the site. He used the handle “Odin” to connect with other far-right extremists.

    AWD quickly gained notoriety for its violent, neo-Nazi ideology, advocating for a race war and the collapse of the U.S. government through terrorism. The group drew inspiration from the writings of white supremacist James Mason, particularly his collection of essays titled “Siege.”

    AWD’s activities included recruiting members on university campuses and among military personnel, engaging in paramilitary training, and promoting accelerationist violence. The group has been linked to multiple murders and plots in the United States and has inspired offshoots in Europe and other regions.

    By 2020, AWD unraveled due to law enforcement pressure, prosecutions and internal splits. Though not fully gone, it effectively stopped operating under its name. Members helped form the National Socialist Order, which continues to promote Mason’s “Siege” and violent accelerationism.

    Active Club Network

    Active clubs are loosely organized, often regional groups of white supremacists and neofascists who combine fitness, combat training and ideology to promote violence and white nationalist goals. Members protest Pride and multicultual events and recruit members through fighting and combat sports. Active clubs and similar extremist networks use a multipronged recruitment strategy, combining online reach via Telegram and other social media with in-person, fighting-based community-building to attract new members.

    Neo-Nazi counterdemonstrators shout angrily at the marchers from behind police barricades during the Lesbian and Gay Pride March on Fifth Avenue in New York, on June 25, 1995.
    AP Photo/Kathy Willens

    Emerging in 2017 from the street-fighting “Rise Above Movement” in Southern California and gaining prominence in the 2020s through the rise of The Active Club Network, or ACN, this movement demonstrated a shift from online-only, far-right groups to groups willing to fight.

    Beginning in December 2020, The Active Club Network formed as a loosely affiliated, decentralized web of white supremacist, fascist and accelerationist groups that operate under a shared banner promoting physical training, brotherhood and militant white nationalism.

    The Base

    Founded around 2018, The Base represents one of the most explicit modern expressions of white nationalist accelerationism: as it is known by members, its “Siege Culture.”

    Founded by Rinaldo Nazzaro, an American living in Russia who used the name Roman Wolf, the group recruited ex-military and survivalists preparing for collapse through self-sufficiency, aiming to spark a race war. The Base was directly influenced by James Mason’s book “Siege.”

    The Base operates as a decentralized network of cells trained in paramilitary tactics, sabotage and guerrilla warfare. Their online propaganda explicitly calls for violent action to destabilize society.

    Its members have been involved in plots to murder anti-fascist activists, poison water supplies, derail trains and attack critical infrastructure. In 2020, multiple members were arrested before they could carry out an armed assault at a pro-gun rally in Richmond, Virginia, where they planned to attack police officers and civilians.

    Although several members have been arrested and convicted on a variety of crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder, civil disorder, firearm charges, vandalism and other violent crimes, The Base illustrates a fundamental feature of accelerationism: “leaderless resistance,” or a lack of a centralized leadership, which helps it survive and thrive. Its ideology and tactics are spread through online forums dedicated to white supremacist propaganda.

    Patriot Front

    Founded in 2017 by Thomas Rousseau, Patriot Front is a white supremacist group that emerged from a split with Vanguard America following the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Vanguard America was a white supremacist group that opposed multiculturalism and whose members believed America should be an exclusively white nation.

    The goals of the organizers of the Unite the Right rally included unifying the American white nationalist movement and opposing the proposed removal of the statue of Robert E. Lee, the general who led the Confederate troops of slave states during the Civil War, from Charlottesville’s former Lee Park. The rally sparked a national debate over Confederate iconography, racial violence and white supremacy.

    The Patriot Front defines itself as an organization of “American nationalists.” According to the Anti-Defamation League, since 2019 the Patriot Front has been responsible for a majority of white supremacist propaganda distributed in the United States, using flyers, posters, stickers, banners and the internet to spread its ideology.

    The group frequently participates in localized “flash demonstrations” where it marches near city halls. Such demonstrations have also increasingly made it one of the United States’ most visible white supremacist groups. In 2024, Patriot Front held demonstrations on patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

    Although the group claims loyalty to America, the Patriot Front’s ultimate goal is to form a new state that advocates for the “descendants of its creators” – namely, white men.

    Understanding the motivations and tactics of accelerationist groups and individuals, I believe, is critical to recognizing and countering the dangers they represent.

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

    – ref. A field guide to ‘accelerationism’: White supremacist groups using violence to spur race war and create social chaos – https://theconversation.com/a-field-guide-to-accelerationism-white-supremacist-groups-using-violence-to-spur-race-war-and-create-social-chaos-255699

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI, BALDERSON, SMITH, CASSIDY REINTRODUCE BILL TO ELIMINATE BARRIER TO TELEMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA), Congressman Troy Balderson (R-OH), and Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) reintroduced the Telemental Health Care Access Act, legislation that would remove barriers to high-quality, virtual mental and behavioral health care for Medicare beneficiaries.

    Specifically, the bill removes the statutory requirement that Medicare beneficiaries be seen in-person within six months of being treated for mental and behavioral health services through telehealth. Eliminating this arbitrary requirement will ensure that patients can fully leverage telehealth to get the care they need from home.

    Provisions and extensions based upon the Telemental Health Care Access Act have been passed through multiple appropriations packages and continuing resolutions, most recently in March of this year – temporarily delaying the in-person requirement through September 30, 2025. This legislation would remove the in-person requirement permanently.

    “Mental health care is unequivocally as essential as physical health care – and telehealth has been a critical tool to bridge that gap and make it easier for Americans to access and seek care sooner,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “No matter where you live, whether it be rural or urban, you should not have arbitrary barriers like in-person visit requirements preventing you from accessing the care you need. That’s why we’re reintroducing this bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would ensure our Medicare beneficiaries can permanently get convenient, quality care, where and when they need it.” 

    “Telehealth has transformed health care access for people in rural and underserved communities, offering timely, high-quality care that was once out of reach,” said Congressman Balderson. “In particular, virtual mental and behavioral health services have reduced wait times and lowered barriers for those seeking professional support. The Telemental Health Care Access Act eliminates unnecessary restrictions on Medicare beneficiaries, helping fully unlock the potential of digital health care.”

    “Telehealth has proved to be an important lifeline and tool to close some of the most significant gaps in patients’ access to health care services,” said Senator Smith. “Especially for Minnesotans in small towns and rural communities suffering from mental health challenges, long commutes to the nearest provider can mean virtual care is the only feasible option. This bill is an important step in making it easier for mental health patients on Medicare to ask for help and get the care they need, without having to jump through administrative hoops.”

    Stakeholders across the health care industry have long raised concerns about inequitable access to mental health services. This legislation has garnered significant support amongst health care leaders.

    “The provision of mental health and substance use treatment through telehealth is a lifeline for those in rural and other underserved areas. It is essential, especially given current levels of demand, that we eliminate all unnecessary barriers and ensure continuity of care for these patients,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.B.A. “APA strongly supports Representatives Matsui and Balderson and Senators Cassidy and Smith’s introduction of Telemental Health Care Access Act, as this legislation would greatly expand access to care.”

    “We strongly support the Telemental Health Care Access Act, important legislation that would eliminate requirements that are not clinically appropriate and only serve to limit access to necessary care for millions of Americans with behavioral health conditions,” said Kyle Zebley, Executive Director, ATA Action and Senior Vice President of Public Policy at the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). “We remain grateful to our telehealth champions in Congress, including Representatives Doris Matsui and Troy Balderson and Senators Tina Smith and Bill Cassidy who are reintroducing this important bipartisan legislation. By passing this bill, Congress will clear the path for Medicare beneficiaries to have greater access to telemental health services when and where they need it.”

    “Telehealth remains a crucial lifeline for patients seeking behavioral health support, particularly in communities with limited access to local providers,” saidArthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association Services. “Patients deserve uninterrupted, comprehensive care, yet restrictive policies on tele-behavioral health services threaten the progress made in expanding access to treatment options. The reintroduction of the Telemental Health Care Access Act by Representatives Matsui and Balderson is a pivotal step in protecting access to essential care. Their commitment to ensuring patients can receive lifesaving behavioral health treatment—regardless of geographic barriers—is a victory for all who rely on these vital services.”

    “Mental health care reduces the risk of suicide. The Telemental Health Care Access Act will enable greater access to care by allowing Medicare coverage for telemental health without a requirement for patients to see their providers in person,” saidLaurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Telemental health care is essential in connecting people in rural and other underserved areas with providers and removing unnecessary barriers to care, as well as for supporting access for individuals with limited ability to travel to office settings. We commend Representative Matsui, Representative Balderson, Senator Smith, and Senator Cassidy for leading this legislation to prevent suicide and protect access to mental health and substance use treatment.”

    Endorsing Organizations:

    • Alliance for Connected Care
    • Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP)
    • American Counseling Association (ACA)
    • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
    • American Medical Association (AMA)
    • American Psychiatric Association (APA)
    • American Psychological Association
    • American Telemedicine Association (ATA)
    • ATA Action
    • Association for Behavioral Health & Wellness (ABHW)
    • Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
    • California Medical Association
    • Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL)
    • Centerstone
    • Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action
    • Health Innovation Alliance (HIA)
    • Hims & Hers
    • HIMSS
    • Included Health
    • Mental Health America
    • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
    • National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH)
    • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
    • Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies
    • REDC Consortium
    • Talkspace
    • Teladoc Health
    • United States of Care

    Congresswoman Matsui has long led efforts to harness the power of technology to improve our health care system, including expanding access to telehealth services. She has continually led efforts to extend critical telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries. She authored the Telemental Health Expansion Act, which permanently added mental health to the definition of Medicare-covered telehealth services, waived the geographic and originating site requirements for mental health provided through telehealth, and allowed Medicare beneficiaries to access these services at home. 

    Full text of the bill is available HERE.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Neguse Awarded 2025 Keystone Leadership Award for Commitment to Constructive Policymaking

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    Neguse and former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack serve as this year’s honorees; prior recipients include John McCain and Bob Woodward.

    Washington, D.C. — This week, Congressman Joe Neguse was recognized as a 2025 Keystone Leadership Award recipient by the Colorado-based Keystone Policy Center for his commitment to constructive policymaking and his successful legislative efforts to construct bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing the West—from land and water conservation to wildfire mitigation. In addition to the 41-year-old lawmaker, also receiving the award this year were former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the CEO of the Nature Conservancy, Jennifer Morris.  

    Prior award recipients include the late U.S. Senator John McCain, current U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Michael Bennet, PBS News Anchor Judy Woodruff, and legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Bob Woodward, among others. 

    The nonpartisan organization noted Neguse’s dedication to bridging the divide between urban and rural communities in Colorado, and his leadership on rural challenges in particular, including forest health, public lands, and watershed protection. Neguse has worked to implement the unique approach through his “Lead Locally” initiative, which includes innovative Service Town-Halls and hosting more than 12 in-person town hall in just the past 5 months across Colorado’s Western Slope, Central Mountains, and Northern communities. 

    In receiving the Keystone Leadership Award, Neguse further cemented his legacy of delivering results for the state of Colorado. Earlier this year, he was named the most effective member of the state’s federal delegation by the Center for Effective Lawmaking. 

    “When your congressional district is 12,000 square miles and larger than 8 states, you understand that service means showing up in — and listening to — every single community. That’s exactly what we’ve done as I’ve served the people of Northern and Western Colorado — from Walden to Fort Collins, and I’m proud of our work to cut through the chaos and partner with folks of all political stripes to address the challenges we face in the Rocky Mountain West.” Congressman Neguse continued, “It has never been more important to find ways to foster greater collaboration and dialogue with those with whom we may disagree. I’m grateful to the Keystone Policy Center for their recognition of our efforts on that front, and remain hopeful that we can address the consequential challenges of our time.” 

    “For five decades, Keystone Policy Center has brought people together to find collaborative, actionable solutions to the toughest public policy challenges. Each recipient of the Keystone Leadership Award embodies that mission and demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible when others say it can’t be done,” said Christine Scanlan, president and CEO of the Keystone Policy Center. “We are proud to honor these leaders, among them Congressman Joe Neguse, who represents the district Keystone calls home. It was also a privilege to host these leaders for a one-on-one fireside conversation, offering a powerful opportunity to learn from their experiences and insights.”

    The Keystone Policy Center established the Keystone Leadership Awards in 1994 to recognize extraordinary leadership by individuals and organizations whose work embraces their mission: inspiring leaders to rise above entrenched positions and find common ground. Keystone honors individuals and organizations within its areas of work as well as recognizes leaders in government and the media who create impact in the public interest.  

    About Neguse’s Collaborative Leadership Approach:

    Congressman Joe Neguse is the founder and Co-Chair of both the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus and the Bipartisan Colorado River Caucus, groups established to build consensus and elevate awareness around key issues like the rise of Western wildfires and worsening drought in the Colorado River Basin. He has leveraged these coalitions to introduce and pass legislation focused on preserving public lands, strengthening the outdoor economy, and confronting the wildfire crisis. Notably, he successfully enacted four bipartisan bills through last year’s Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act: the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act, the Biking On Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act, the Improving Access to Outdoor Recreation Coordination Act, and the Stop the Spread of Invasive Mussels Act. The EXPLORE Act also included the Simplifying Access for Outdoor Recreation Permitting (SOAR) Act, which Neguse co-led in the House. His efforts have earned him recognition as the Member of Congress with the most bipartisan support for his legislative proposals.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Neguse, Gun Violence Prevention Leaders Call on Senate to Strip Effort to Deregulate Firearms Silencers from Republicans’ Budget Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

    Washington, D.C. — House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02), Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Chair Mike Thompson (CA-04), and Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) led over 60 members of the Democratic Caucus in penning a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, urging they commit to removing language that eliminates excise taxes on firearm silencers and deregulates their use under the National Firearms Act currently included in the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” 

    Neguse and his colleagues on the House Rules Committee exposed Republicans’ last-minute move to eliminate firearm silencer regulations during the panel’s marathon 21-hour hearing. A silencer, when attached to the barrel of a firearm, muffles the sound of gunfire—obstructing law enforcement efforts to respond to active shooters and making it more difficult to recognize the sound of gunfire and locate the source of gunshots quickly and effectively.  

    “In the dead of night, our Republican colleagues added a provision (Sec. 112029) to H.R.1 that would remove firearm silencers from the NFA. This change, which was ultimately included in the legislation, would be catastrophic to public safety and greatly impede law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe,” wrote Neguse, Thompson, and Amo. 

    The lawmakers continued: “As you know, the so-called ‘Byrd Rule’ under the Congressional Budget Act makes clear that, in short, non-budgetary provisions cannot be included in reconciliation legislation. Removing the regulatory structure for firearm silencers is thus not only dangerous, but blatantly violative of the Byrd Rule. Put simply, the provision represents a clear attempt to make a significant policy change to a century-old law, and cannot be adopted through the reconciliation process on that basis alone.”  

    “Congress has long maintained strong regulations for firearm silencers under the NFA for good reason. Law enforcement has identified silencers in crimes across the country–including in mass shootings in Monterey Park, California, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and by a gunman that killed two police officers during a 10-day shooting spree in Southern California. Furthermore, according to data from the ATF, in 2023 alone, over 400 silencers were recovered and traced from violent crime scenes. It is with this in mind, that we strongly urge you to remove Section 112029, and any provision that would deregulate and eliminate excise taxes on firearm silencers as the Senate considers the FY25 reconciliation bill. If enacted, these provisions would place the public and our brave law enforcement officers in harm’s way. The American people and our law enforcement deserve better,” they concluded. 

    The full letter is available HERE. 

    It is supported by Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Giffords.  

    “The inclusion of the deregulation of silencers under the National Firearms Act in the budget reconciliation bill is unconscionable and demonstrates a complete disregard for public safety. In the wrong hands, silencers are extremely dangerous as they make it much more difficult for victims, bystanders, and law enforcement to recognize and react to gunfire and to identify shooters, even when in close proximity. Deregulating these under the NFA devices will enable mass shooters and other bad actors, putting the lives of law enforcement and the public at risk across the nation,” said Mark Collins, Director of Federal Policy at Brady. 

    “The silencer provisions in this bill will put law enforcement and our communities at greater risk from gun violence while costing taxpayers more than a billion dollars. We urge the Senate to remove these harmful provisions, and thank Rep. Neguse for his leadership on this issue,” said Monisha Henley, Everytown’s Senior Vice President, Government Affairs.

    “Instead of fighting crime and keeping American families safe, House Republicans gave gun industry CEOs a $1.5 billion tax break to boost their bottom line. Silencers enable shooters to cause more violence without being detected. Law enforcement has opposed efforts to sell silencers without background checks for a reason — they make law enforcement’s jobs harder. We thank Rep. Neguse for his leadership on this issue, and urge the Senate to keep silencers out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director of GIFFORDS.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Upcoming US Law Webinars – July 2025

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    We hope you will join us in July for the next offering of our Orientation to Legal Research webinars, focusing on U.S. federal legislative history, followed by the next entry into the Orientation to Law Library Collections webinars. The Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinar is designed for patrons who are familiar with legal research and would instead prefer an introduction to the collections and services specific to the Law Library of Congress. It will cover digital resources available through the Law Library’s website as well as those available on-site. Within this webinar, there will be a guest presentation as part of the 50 State Outreach Project by staff from the Connecticut State Library. Deborah Schander, state librarian, and Lindsay Cawley, reference services unit head, will present from the Connecticut State Library during the webinar. The Connecticut State Library presenters note that

    “[t]he Connecticut State Library is an independent and non-partisan Executive Branch agency of the State of Connecticut. Founded in 1854, the State Library is home to the State Archives, Office of the Public Records Administrator, Museum of Connecticut History, the Division of Library Development and the Connecticut Library for Accessible Books, and Reference Services, which is comprised of three specific subject areas: History & Genealogy, Law & Legislation, and Government Information. Since its founding, the Connecticut State Library has served as the principal law library for the State of Connecticut. Today, the agency’s Law & Legislation unit continues to serve as the permanent home of Connecticut General Assembly official transcripts and legislative bill files and a repository of statutes, laws, and court opinions from all 50 states and federal jurisdictions. Open to both residents and users beyond state borders, the State Library serves the employees and officials of all three branches of state government, students, teachers, researchers, town governments, and anyone seeking information within its collections.”

    We hope you will join us for these informative and interesting webinars!

    Orientation to Legal Research: Federal Legislative History

    Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

    Content: This webinar is designed to give a basic introduction to legal sources and research techniques. This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. federal legislative history resources, including information about the methods of identifying and locating them. In tackling this area of research, the focus will largely be on finding these documents online.

    Instructor: Sarah Friedman. Sarah Friedman is a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Sarah holds a B.A. in English literature and criticism from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law.

    Register here. 

    Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinar Featuring the Connecticut State Library

    Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

    Content: This webinar is designed for patrons who are familiar with legal research and would instead prefer an introduction to the collections and services specific to the Law Library of Congress. Some of the resources attendees will learn about include the Law Library’s research guides, digital collections, and the Guide to Law Online, among others.

    Instructor: Sarah Friedman. Sarah Friedman is a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Sarah holds a B.A. in English literature and criticism from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law.

    Register here.

    To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute. Please request ADA accommodations at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Om Birla pays floral tribute to former speaker K.S. Hegde on his birth anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today led a solemn ceremony at Samvidhan Sadan to pay floral tribute to former Speaker K. S. Hegde on his birth anniversary.

    Elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1952, K. S. Hegde served until 1957, when he resigned to join the Mysore High Court as a judge. His illustrious judicial career saw him serve as Chief Justice of the Delhi and Himachal Pradesh High Court and later as a Supreme Court Judge from 1967 until his resignation in 1973. In 1977, Hegde was elected to the Sixth Lok Sabha from Bangalore South Constituency and became Lok Sabha Speaker on July 21, 1977, following Dr. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy’s resignation. After stepping down as Speaker in January 1980, he settled in his native Karnataka, where he passed away on May 24, 1990.

    During the ceremony, a booklet highlighting Hegde’s life and contributions, published

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Capital Releases Investor Presentation Highlighting Plan to Make MediPharm Labs the World’s Leading International Medical Cannabis Company

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo Technology Capital Corporation (“Apollo Capital”), which together with its affiliates and associates collectively is one of the largest shareholders of MediPharm Labs Corp. (TSX: LABS) (OTCQB: MEDIF) (FSE: MLZ) (“MediPharm”, “MediPharm Labs”, or the “Company”), owning approximately 3% of the Company’s common stock, today issued a presentation to set forth their ambitious plan to grow your investment and help turn MediPharm around.

       
    • Outlines Commitment to Immediately and Aggressively Execute on Action Plan to 10X+ Share Price and Create Value for All Shareholders
    • Details Specific and Measurable Initiatives to Save MediPharm Labs from Insolvency at the Hands of Greedy, Reckless, and Maligned Leaders
    • Sets Forth Plan to Stop Exorbitant Executive Compensation Pay-for-Failure and End 3 Years of Value Destructive Actions
    		  
       

    THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW. VOTE THE GOLD CARD TODAY.

    SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO PROTECT THEIR INVESTMENT BY VOTING THE GOLD PROXY CARD “FOR” APOLLO CAPITAL’S SIX HIGHLY-QUALIFIED DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND DISREGARD MEDIPHARM LABS’ GREEN PROXY CARD.

    TOGETHER LET’S SAVE MEDIPHARM AND DELIVER THE VALUE THAT SHAREHOLDERS DESERVE.

    View the Presentation at https://www.curemedipharm.com/historical-filing/investor-presentation.

    For more information on our detailed value creation plan and instructions on how to vote, please see our website www.curemedipharm.com.

    Contacts

    For Shareholders:
    Carson Proxy
    North American Toll-Free Phone: 1-800-530-5189
    Local or Text Message: 416-751-2066 (collect calls accepted)
    E: info@carsonproxy.com

    For Media:
    media@curemedipharm.com

    This solicitation is being made by and on behalf of Apollo Capital, who, as of the date of this Circular, beneficially owns or controls, directly and indirectly through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nobul Technologies Inc., 12,491,500 common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”), representing approximately 3% of the total Common Shares issued and outstanding, and not by the management of the Company.

    Legal Disclosures

    Information in Support of Public Broadcast Exemption under Canadian Law

    In connection with the annual general and special meeting (the “Annual Meeting”) of shareholders of MediPharm, Apollo Capital has filed an amended and restated dissident information circular dated May 15, 2025 (the “Circular”), as amended and supplemented by an addendum to the Circular subsequently filed by Apollo Capital and Patrick McCutcheon (together, the “Concerned Stakeholder”) dated June 4, 2025 (the “Addendum” and together with the Circular, the “Amended Circular”), each in compliance with applicable corporate and securities laws. The Concerned Stakeholder has provided in, or incorporated by reference into, this press release the disclosure required under section 9.2(4) of NI 51-102 – Continuous Disclosure Obligations (“NI 51-102”) and the corresponding exemption under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), and has filed the Amended Circular, available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Amended Circular contains disclosure prescribed by applicable corporate law and disclosure required under section 9.2(6) of NI 51-102 in respect of the Concerned Stakeholder’s director nominees, in accordance with corporate and securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations. The Amended Circular is hereby incorporated by reference into this press release and is available under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The registered office of the Company is 151 John Street, Barrie, Ontario, Canada L4N 2L1.

    SHAREHOLDERS OF MEDIPHARM ARE URGED TO READ THE AMENDED CIRCULAR CAREFULLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders are able to obtain free copies of the Amended Circular and any amendments or supplements thereto and further proxy circulars at no charge under MediPharm’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, shareholders are also able to obtain free copies of the Amended Circular and other relevant documents by contacting the Concerned Stakeholder’s proxy solicitor, Carson Proxy Advisors Ltd. (“Carson Proxy”) at 1-800-530-5189, local (collect outside North America): 416-751-2066 or by email at info@carsonproxy.com. Finally, the Amended Circular is available on this website https://www.curemedipharm.com/historical-filing/investor-flyer.

    Proxies may be revoked in accordance with subsection 110(4) of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) by a registered shareholder of Company shares: (a) by completing and signing a valid proxy bearing a later date and returning it in accordance with the instructions contained in the accompanying form of proxy; (b) by depositing an instrument in writing executed by the shareholder or by the shareholder’s attorney authorized in writing; (c) by transmitting by telephonic or electronic means a revocation that is signed by electronic signature in accordance with applicable law, as the case may be: (i) at the registered office of the Company at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting is to be held, or (ii) with the chair of the Annual Meeting on the day of the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting; or (d) in any other manner permitted by law. In addition, proxies may be revoked by a non-registered holder of Company shares at any time by written notice to the intermediary in accordance with the instructions given to the non-registered holder by its intermediary. It should be noted that revocation of proxies or voting instructions by a non-registered holder can take several days or even longer to complete and, accordingly, any such revocation should be completed well in advance of the deadline prescribed in the form of proxy or voting instruction form to ensure it is given effect in respect of the Annual Meeting.

    The costs incurred in the preparation and mailing of any circular or proxy solicitation by the Concerned Stakeholder and any other participants named herein will be borne directly and indirectly by Apollo Capital. However, to the extent permitted under applicable law, Apollo Capital intends to seek reimbursement from the Company of all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of its director nominees at the Annual Meeting.

    This press release and any solicitation made by the Concerned Stakeholder is, or will be, as applicable, made by such parties, and not by or on behalf of the management of the Company. Proxies may be solicited by proxy circular, mail, telephone, email or other electronic means, as well as by newspaper or other media advertising and in person by managers, directors, officers and employees of the Concerned Stakeholder who will not be specifically remunerated therefor. In addition, the Concerned Stakeholder may solicit proxies by way of public broadcast, including press release, speech or publication and any other manner permitted under applicable Canadian laws, and may engage the services of one or more agents and authorize other persons to assist it in soliciting proxies on their behalf.

    Apollo Capital has entered into an agreement with Carson Proxy for solicitation and advisory services in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Concerned Stakeholder for the Annual Meeting, for which Carson Proxy will receive a fee from Apollo Capital not to exceed $250,000, together with reimbursement for reasonable and out-of-pocket expenses. Apollo Capital has also engaged Gasthalter & Co. LP (“G&Co”) to act as communications consultant to provide the Concerned Stakeholder with certain communications, public relations and related services, for which G&Co will receive, from Apollo Capital, a minimum fee of US$75,000 in addition to a performance fee of US$250,000 in the event that the Concerned Stakeholder’s nominees make up a majority of the board of directors of MediPharm (the “Board”) following the Annual Meeting, plus excess fees, related costs and expenses.

    No member of the Concerned Stakeholder nor any of their respective associates or affiliates has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the beginning of the Company’s last completed financial year or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will or would materially affect the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates. No member of the Concerned Stakeholder nor any of their respective associates or affiliates has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, other than setting the number of directors and the election of directors to the Board.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward‐looking statements. All statements contained in this filing that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward‐looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “plan,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward‐looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of the Concerned Stakeholder and currently available information. They are not guarantees of future performance, involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. All forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date hereof and the Concerned Stakeholder disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur, or of which the Concerned Stakeholder hereafter becomes aware, except as required by applicable law.

    Hashtags: #ShareholderActivism #CorporateGovernance #InvestorProtection #Investor Alert #Investor Fraud #FinancialRegulation #CorporateCrime #FinancialCrime #HomelandSecurity #DHS #OpioidCrisis #OpioidEpidemic #OpioidLitigation #OpioidVictims #BMO #DEA #ONDCP

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Global Billion Dollar Oncology Industry Experiencing Substantial Growth Driven by Increasing Cancer Incidences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The global oncology market is undergoing rapid growth, mainly due to the increasing number of cancer cases around the world. The World Health Organization estimates there will be over 35 million new cancer cases by 2050, a massive 77% increase from the estimated 20 million cases in 2022. This rising occurrence of cancer has been attributed to lifestyle changes in an increasingly geriatric population in both developed countries and emerging economies. Environmental factors such as pollution and the high penetration of microplastics, a potential carcinogen, are also contributing to the growing number of cancer cases. As the global burden of cancer continues to go up, government and private organizations are increasing funding in both healthcare infrastructure and investment into research and development of therapeutics and potential cures for various kinds of cancers. Many federal early detection programs have been launched with large players in the pharmaceutical sector looking to increase the number of clinical trials and drug discovery studies undertaken. These innovations are propelling market expansion, with the sector expected to witness significant growth in the coming years as new technologies and therapies continue to emerge. A new research report from BioSpace, said the global oncology market size was USD 321.19 billion in 2024, and calculated at USD 356.20 billion in 2025 is expected to reach around USD 903.81 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 10.9% for the forecasted period. the development of the global healthcare infrastructure and cancer continuing to be one of the leading causes of death worldwide drives growth in the global oncology market. Active oncology biotech and pharma companies in the markets this week include Oncolytics Biotech®Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC), Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS), BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX), Arvinas, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARVN), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE).

    The report said: “Innovations in cancer treatments include advancements in immunotherapy and precision medicine (which include targeted therapies), and the various applications of artificial intelligence. Some examples of novel oncological treatments include kinase and checkpoint inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and CAR-T cell therapy. These therapeutics mobilize the body’s immune system in new ways to fight cancer. As early diagnostic techniques improve, certain kinds of cancers, such as breast cancer, melanoma, and thyroid cancer, can be cured more frequently. Techniques such as liquid biopsy, biomarker-based testing and breakthroughs such as next-generation sequencing (NGS) are enhancing the ability to diagnose cancer at an early stage. As investment continues to grow in the oncology sector, new treatments are expected to improve the remission and survival rates of patients battling this disease and provide a boost to growth in the global oncology market.”

    Oncolytics Biotech®Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) (TSX: ONC) Names New CEO to Accelerate Momentum in Immunotherapy Programs — Oncolytics Biotech ® Inc., ($ONCY $ONC), a leading clinical-stage company specializing in immunotherapy for oncology, today announced the appointment of Jared Kelly as Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors.

    Mr. Kelly is a successful biotech executive who has proven expertise in transformative deals and corporate strategy. Most recently, he played a central role in orchestrating the sale of Ambrx Biopharma to Johnson & Johnson for $2 billion. Prior to Ambrx, he advised multiple leading-edge biotech companies on M&A and licensing transactions at highly respected law firms, including Lowenstein Sandler LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He is a JD and LLM graduate of Georgetown Law.

    “Mr. Kelly’s vision and track record is an extraordinary fit with the standout clinical data pelareorep has generated to date,” said Wayne Pisano, Chair of Oncolytics’ Board of Directors and outgoing Interim CEO. “We believe Mr. Kelly’s well-documented ability to prioritize clinical program development, execute successful financings, and attract the attention of large industry peers will help maximize Oncolytics’ potential to deliver transformative outcomes for patients and exceptional value for investors.”

    Mr. Kelly added, “Pelareorep’s clinical data across multiple tumors is striking and represents the potential for a true backbone immunotherapy to address many in-need indications. Importantly, the data show that pelareorep creates a robust immunologic response in difficult tumors and increases survival in a patient population where survival has historically evaded most patients. With a renewed focus and sharpened clinical development plan, we believe we will move pelareorep forward effectively and efficiently to a place where potential partners will see the value of a de-risked immunotherapy. I am excited to get to work accelerating development and unlocking significant value for stakeholders.”

    Pelareorep, an intravenously-administered immunotherapeutic agent, has been granted FDA Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) and HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer (mBC). It has delivered compelling results in mPDAC, a high-value indication with significant unmet need. In Phase 1 and 2 trials involving more than 140 mPDAC patients, pelareorep has delivered a >60% objective response rate in tumor evaluable patients in the most recent study, which is more than double the benefit observed in historical control trials, and, separately, two-year survival rates 4-6 times those observed in control patients or against the benchmark in prior studies.

    In mBC, pelareorep recorded a meaningful survival benefit in two randomized Phase 2 studies of over 100 combined mBC patients, IND-213 and BRACELET-1. Phase 2 objective response rate data in second-line or later unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) patients continue to exceed historical data for treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor alone. These consistent efficacy signals, in combination with multiple chemotherapies and checkpoint inhibitors, uniquely position pelareorep as a high-potential asset for further development in-house and/or through strategic partnerships. Pelareorep also has a well-defined and favorable safety profile based on data from >1,100 patients across multiple tumor types.

    As a material inducement to Mr. Kelly’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer, and in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), Mr. Kelly has been awarded an initial stock option grant exercisable for 2,850,000 shares with an exercise price of CAD$0.57, vesting equally over three years. He also received a performance-based stock option grant exercisable for 1,900,000 shares with an exercise price of CAD$0.57, which will vest upon the achievement of certain financing objectives. All stock option grants have a term of 5 years from the date of grant. The Company also granted Mr. Kelly restricted stock units, which will entitle him to receive that number of Common Shares equal to 2% of the Company’s then outstanding common shares upon the Company entering into a definitive agreement for certain transactions providing for the acquisition of the Company or the exclusive license of pelareorep. Each of these awards is intended to align Mr. Kelly’s long-term incentives with the creation of shareholder value. CONTINUED… Read these full press releases and more news for ONCY at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-oncy/

    Other recent oncology developments in the biotech industry of note include:

    Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) recently announced topline results from a pre-specified interim analysis of the Phase III PSMAddition trial. The trial met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) with a positive trend in overall survival (OS) in patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) treated with radioligand therapy (RLT), Pluvicto™ (lutetium (177Lu) vipivotide tetraxetan), in combination with standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone1. In PSMAddition, the SoC is a combination of androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) therapy and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)3.

    Almost all mHSPC patients ultimately progress to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)4. There is a need for additional treatment options with novel mechanisms of action that further delay progression, prolong OS and improve disease control compared to the current SoC, while showing a favorable safety and tolerability profile.

    BioNTech SE (NASDAQ: BNTX) and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY, “BMS”) recently announced that the companies have entered into an agreement for the global co-development and co-commercialization of BioNTech’s investigational bispecific antibody BNT327 across numerous solid tumor types. Under the agreement, BioNTech and BMS will work jointly to broaden and accelerate the development of this clinical candidate.

    BioNTech’s BNT327, a next-generation bispecific antibody candidate targeting PD-L1 and VEGF-A, is currently being evaluated in multiple ongoing trials with more than 1,000 patients treated to date, including global Phase 3 trials with registrational potential evaluating BNT327 as first-line treatment in extensive stage small cell lung cancer (“ES-SCLC”) and non-small cell lung cancer (“NSCLC”). A global Phase 3 trial evaluating the candidate in triple negative breast cancer (“TNBC”) is planned to start by the end of 2025. Preliminary data from ongoing trials underscore the potential for combining anti-PD-L1 and anti-VEGF-A – two well-established therapeutic targets – into a single molecule to deliver synergistic clinical benefits for patients across multiple tumor types.

    Arvinas, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARVN) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) recently announced detailed results from the Phase 3 VERITAC-2 clinical trial (NCT05654623) evaluating vepdegestrant monotherapy versus fulvestrant in adults with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) whose disease progressed following prior treatment with cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy. These data, which were highlighted in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO®) press briefing and selected for Best of ASCO, will be presented today in a late-breaking oral presentation (Abstract LBA1000) and have been simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

    In the trial, vepdegestrant demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) among patients with an estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) mutation, reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 43% compared to fulvestrant [Hazard Ratio (HR)=0.57 (95% CI 0.42–0.77); 2-sided P<0.001]. The median PFS, as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR), was 5.0 months with vepdegestrant versus 2.1 months with fulvestrant. Investigator-assessed PFS was consistent with the BICR-assessed PFS. In patients with ESR1 mutations, vepdegestrant demonstrated a consistent PFS benefit over fulvestrant across all pre-specified subgroups. The trial did not reach statistical significance in improvement in PFS in the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, with a median PFS of 3.7 months for vepdegestrant versus 3.6 for fulvestrant [HR=0.83 (95% CI 0.68–1.02); 2-sided P=0.07].

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    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Council to Hold its Fifty-Ninth Regular Session from 16 June to 9 July 2025

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its fifty-ninth regular session from 16 June to 9 July 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. 

    The session will open at 10 a.m. on Monday, 16 June under the presidency of Ambassador Jürg Lauber of Switzerland.  The opening will be addressed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who will present his annual report.  The Council will be meeting in room XX of the Palais des Nations.

    Over almost four weeks, the Council will consider more than 60 reports presented by the Secretariat of the United Nations and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, human rights experts and other investigative bodies on numerous topics and relevant to the situation of human rights in more than 40 countries.  In total, the Council will hold 32 interactive dialogues. 

    During the session, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with the High Commissioner on his annual report under agenda item two; on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under agenda item four; and on Ukraine and Colombia under agenda item 10. 

    The Council will hold enhanced interactive dialogues under agenda item two with  the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and on the oral update of the Fact-Finding Mission on the human rights situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Under agenda item four, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue with the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, with the participation of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

    On climate change, the Council will hold its annual panel on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on climate change. The Council will also hold its annual panel on technical cooperation and capacity-building. 

    Under agenda item three, the Council will hold its annual panel discussion on women’s rights, and a panel on safe drinking water and sanitation.  It will also hold interactive dialogues on summary executions, freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, transnational corporations, education, health, leprosy (Hansen’s disease), sexual orientation and gender identity, migrants, internally displaced persons, prevention of genocide, trafficking, extreme poverty, discrimination against women and girls, violence against women and girls, judges and lawyers, and international solidarity.   

    The Council will also hear the presentation of the Secretary-General’s interim report on the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, under agenda item 10. Further, it will hold interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea and the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel, under agenda item two; and with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi under agenda item four. The Council will also hear oral updates from the Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan under agenda item two and from the Commission of Inquiry on Syria under agenda item four. 

    Additionally, the Council will hold interactive dialogues under agenda item seven with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, and under agenda item nine with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.  Under agenda item 10, it will hold an interactive dialogue with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic. 

    The final outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of 14 States will also be considered, namely those of Italy, El Salvador, Gambia, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    A detailed agenda and further information on the fifty-ninth session can be found on the session’s web page.  Reports to be presented are available here. All meetings of this session are broadcast on UN Web TV. 

    First Week of the Session

    The fifty-ninth regular session will open on Monday, 16 June under the presidency of Ambassador Jürg Lauber. After the opening, the Council will begin considerations under agenda item two, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, will present his annual report.  Subsequently, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, and an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. This will be followed by an enhanced interactive dialogue on the oral update of the Fact-Finding Mission on the human rights situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    On Tuesday, 17 June, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s annual report, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel.  At the end of the day, it will hear the presentation of an oral update by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. 

    On Wednesday, 18 June, the Council will commence discussions under agenda item three on the promotion and protection of all human rights, holding interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and the Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, which will conclude on Thursday, 19 June. This will be followed by interactive dialogues with the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, and the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. 

    On Friday, 20 June, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy (Hansen’s disease) and their family members, the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, and the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons. 

    Second Week of the Session

    In its second week, the Council will conclude its interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons on Monday, 23 June.  It will then hold interactive dialogues with the Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide, the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, and the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.

    The Council will start Tuesday, 24 June, with the first part of its annual discussion on women’s rights, focusing on gender-based violence against women and girls in conflict, post-conflict and humanitarian settings.  This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls.  In the afternoon, the second part of the annual discussion on women’s rights will be held, focusing on the commemoration of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy and on overcoming barriers to women’s leadership in peace processes.

    On Wednesday, 25 June, the Council will hold interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, and the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity. 

    The Council will start Thursday, 26 June, with a panel discussion on the realisation of the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, followed by the presentation of reports under agenda item three.  In the afternoon, it will start its consideration of reports under agenda item four on human rights situations that require the Council’s attention, hearing the presentation of an oral update by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, followed by interactive dialogues with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, and on the oral update of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi. 

    On Friday, 27 June, the Council will hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on the report of the High Commissioner on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and the oral update of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.  This will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and the presentation of the High Commissioner’s oral update on the situation of human rights in Nicaragua.

    Third Week of the Session

    The Council will begin its third week on Monday, 30 June, with its annual panel discussion on the adverse impacts of climate change on human rights, focusing on facilitating just transitions in the context of addressing the impacts of climate change on human rights.  This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.  It will then hear the presentation of the report of the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises on the thirteenth session of the Forum on Business and Human Rights under agenda item five on human rights bodies and mechanisms.

    The Council will next start its consideration under item six of the outcomes of the Universal Periodic Review of Italy, El Salvador, Gambia, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Fiji, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Angola, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Madagascar, Iraq, Slovenia, Egypt, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will conclude at the end of the day on Wednesday, 2 July. 

    On Thursday, 3 July, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, under agenda item seven on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.  This will be followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, under agenda item nine on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance. 

    In the afternoon, the Council will begin discussions under item 10 on technical assistance and capacity-building, with interactive dialogues on the oral presentation of the High Commissioner regarding his Office’s periodic report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine, and on the interim report of the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine.  This will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on the enhancement of technical assistance and capacity-building to assist Colombia in the implementation of the recommendations made by the Commission for the Clarification of Truth, Coexistence and Non-Repetition. 

    On Friday, 4 July, the Council will hold its annual panel discussion on technical cooperation and capacity-building, focusing on the role of technical cooperation and capacity-building in strengthening national structures which play a role in promoting and safeguarding human rights, particularly national human rights institutions and national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up. 

    This will be followed by an interactive dialogue on the oral update of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in the Central African Republic.

    In the afternoon, the Council will hear the presentation of the report of the High Commissioner relating to cooperation with Georgia.  It will then start taking action on draft resolutions and decisions. 

    Fourth Week of the Session

    The final week of the Council will be devoted to taking action on draft resolutions and decisions and the appointment of a member of the Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development and a member of the Working Group on arbitrary detention.  The session will conclude on Wednesday, 9 July.

    The Human Rights Council

    The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system, made up of 47 States, which is responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe.  The Council was created by the United Nations General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them.

    The composition of the Human Rights Council at its fifty-ninth session is as follows: Albania (2026); Algeria (2025); Bangladesh (2025); Belgium (2025); Benin (2027); Bolivia (2027); Brazil (2026); Bulgaria (2026); Burundi (2026); Chile (2025); China (2026); Colombia (2027); Costa Rica (2025); Côte d’Ivoire (2026); Cuba (2026); Cyprus (2027); Czechia (2027); Democratic Republic of the Congo (2027); Dominican Republic (2026); Ethiopia (2027); France (2026); Gambia (2027); Georgia (2025); Germany (2025); Ghana (2026); Iceland (2027); Indonesia (2026); Japan (2026); Kenya (2027); Kuwait (2026); Kyrgyzstan (2025); Malawi (2026); Maldives (2025); Marshall Islands (2027); Mexico (2027); Morocco (2025); Netherlands (2026); North Macedonia (2027); Qatar (2027); Republic of Korea (2027); Romania (2025); South Africa (2025); Spain (2027); Sudan (2025); Switzerland (2027); Thailand (2027); and Viet Nam (2025).

    The term of membership of each State expires in the year indicated in parentheses.

    The President of the Human Rights Council in 2025 is Jürg Lauber (Switzerland).  The four Vice-Presidents are Tareq Md Ariful Islam (Bangladesh), Razvan Rusu (Romania), Claudia Puentes Julio (Chile), and Paul Empole Losoko Efambe (Democratic Republic of the Congo).  Mr. Efambe also serves as Rapporteur of the Geneva-based body. 

    The dates and venue of the fifty-ninth session are subject to change.

    Information on the fifty-ninth session can be found here, including the annotated agenda and the reports to be presented.

    For further information, please contact Pascal Sim (simp@un.org), Matthew Brown (matthew.brown@un.org) and David Díaz Martín (david.diazmartin@un.org)

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    HRC25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –