NewzIntel.com

Category: Law

  • MIL-OSI Security: Head of Justice Department’s Criminal Division Matthew R. Galeotti Delivers Remarks at American Conference Institute Conference

    Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

    Thank you, Lisa and Paige, for having me here today. And thank you to the American Conference Institute for hosting this conference.

    Under my leadership, the Criminal Division has been tirelessly working to execute on all of the Department’s priorities, holding criminals to account and seeking justice for victims.

    Today, I’m here to talk about the Criminal Division’s renewed efforts to combat white-collar crime in the new Administration.

    Let me first say a few words about FCPA enforcement before I discuss in detail the Criminal Division’s policies, approach, and initiatives in the white-collar space.

    The Deputy Attorney General sent me a memorandum, which he publicly released, detailing the new FCPA Enforcement Guidelines called for by the President’s Executive Order. These Guidelines provide evaluation criteria and a non-exhaustive list of factors to balance when deciding whether to pursue an FCPA case.

    As detailed in the DAG’s memo, the factors include — but are not limited to — whether the alleged misconduct deprived specific and identifiable U.S. entities of fair access to compete; involves key infrastructure or assets; bears strong indicia of corrupt intent tied to particular individuals and serious misconduct; or is associated with the criminal operations of a Cartel or Transnational Criminal Organization. No one factor is necessary or dispositive.

    The through-line is that these Guidelines require the vindication of U.S. interests. People have speculated about the meaning of that phrase, but the DAG’s memo makes it clear. It is not about the nationality of the subject or where the company is headquartered. In plain terms, conduct that genuinely impacts the United States or the American people is subject to potential prosecution by U.S. law enforcement. Conduct that does not implicate U.S. interests should be left to our foreign counterparts or appropriate regulators. And in those cases, the Criminal Division won’t hesitate to work with our foreign counterparts or domestic regulators to provide assistance and ensure that those countries and regulators can vindicate their interests and pursue their mandates.

    The memo also directs other common-sense principles, such as focusing on specific misconduct of individuals, rather than collective knowledge theories. All of these propositions are not controversial; in fact, we’ve heard them many times from counsel advocating on behalf of their clients. 

    Under the DAG’s leadership, the Department has reviewed FCPA matters, closing certain cases and proceeding with others by applying the criteria set forth in the Guidelines. With these Guidelines now in place, and consistent with the Executive Order, the Criminal Division will enforce the FCPA — firmly but fairly — by bringing enforcement actions against conduct that directly undermines U.S. national interests without losing sight of the burdens on American companies that operate globally.

    Now, let me shift from the FCPA to the extremely broad swath of white-collar and corporate misconduct not governed by that particular statute.

    As many of you know, four weeks ago, I released the Criminal Division’s enforcement plan for white-collar crime and discussed how we will ensure justice and fairness in those cases. To the extent anyone may have misread these remarks, let me be clear: Under my leadership, the Criminal Division has not and will not close meritorious investigations or dismiss meritorious cases. Indeed, consistent with the principles set forth in my memorandum, we will vigorously pursue these investigations and open new ones. We will move them expeditiously. And we will resolve them, fairly and justly.

    Let me make one other broad, related point. Be conscientious about what, when, and how you appeal the decisions of Trial Attorneys and AUSAs. White-collar and corporate defendants are fortunate to have sophisticated counsel. We do not begrudge defense counsel for zealously advocating for their clients. And we hold our prosecutors to the highest standards. These are central tenets of our system.

    But seeking premature relief, mischaracterizing prosecutorial conduct, or otherwise failing to be an honest broker actively undermines our system. It also will be counter-productive to your appeals, coloring arguments that may carry more weight, especially when made judiciously at the appropriate time. Clients deserve your wise counsel about how to handle the most significant and sensitive matters, and in the overwhelming majority of cases, that’s what they get. We should all strive to keep it that way.

    In the Criminal Division, we are focused on the work. So, let’s talk about that.

    Fighting white-collar and corporate crime is a critical component of the Criminal Division’s priorities. From procurement to health care fraud, and money laundering to sanctions evasion, white-collar and corporate crimes steal from taxpayers, inhibit American prosperity, and impact national security. These crimes rob U.S. citizens and investors of their hard-earned savings, disturb markets, hurt the economy, and victimize vulnerable Americans.

    Protecting the American people requires an aggressive and robust strategy to investigate and prosecute white-collar and corporate crime. Almost a month ago, you heard me say that you have a role to play in this fight. Indeed, business and compliance leaders, and the counsel who advise them, have a critical role to play. You can do the right thing, report potential crimes, root out misconduct, cooperate with the Department, and help the company remediate. And when you do, significant benefits are available to your clients.

    But there is an important corollary to that — and I want to make sure you hear it clearly and take it to your stakeholders and clients. For those who do not come forward despite all the benefits available: we will move aggressively — yet fairly — to prosecute white-collar offenders whose crimes undermine U.S. interests. We will hold accountable those who victimize the most vulnerable among us and defraud the government. We will root out those who abuse the American economy and exploit law-abiding businesses. We will swiftly bring charges against individuals and companies, and all the benefits of our policies will not be available to these offenders.

    So let me take a few minutes to speak at a more granular level about what our policies mean in practice. The memo and policies I issued last month demonstrate our commitment to this approach. We clarified the Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy and expanded the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program because these policies work. They incentivize companies and individuals to report crime to let us go after bad actors. 

    Indeed, these policies and incentives work best when we are clear and transparent with the public, including American businesses and the defense bar. That is why I issued the white-collar memo last month. The memorandum clearly articulated key areas of enforcement for the Criminal Division and directed our prosecutors to move quickly to bring charges. As an aside, and this should go without saying, priority connotes precedence, not exclusivity.

    Let me dig in on three key areas of change.

    First, declinations. The benefits to companies that voluntarily self-report, cooperate, and remediate have never been clearer and more certain: those companies will receive a declination, not just a “presumption.”

    While we have maintained our discretion to deviate where there are aggravating circumstances, this is not a game of “gotcha.”  We cannot envision every fact pattern imaginable, and we must retain some flexibility where the aggravating factors are such that a declination simply is not appropriate. But I can tell you that I am closely reviewing all corporate resolutions, and I am standing behind this policy. Indeed, the revised CEP narrowed what constitutes an “aggravating factor,” giving even more transparency and certainty for companies deciding whether or not to come forward. Issuing declinations for voluntary self-reports is sound policy — both to hold the most culpable individuals accountable and as a preventative measure to deter misconduct from happening in the first place — and I will closely scrutinize any VSD that is not recommended for a CEP declination. The circumstances would have to be truly aggravating and sufficient to outweigh the fact that the company voluntarily came forward.

    Next, monitors. We are nearing the end of our review of all Criminal Division corporate monitors. And, as the revised monitor policy lays out, we have learned some important lessons. Under my leadership, the Criminal Division has proceeded with some monitorships but terminated others where circumstances permitted companies to achieve compliance with our agreements on their own, including by self-reporting, compliance certifications, and other requirements.

    Monitors are meant to be a temporary bridge and accountability measure to move a company quickly and efficiently to full compliance. We believe the measures we’ve instituted in place of monitorships — including putting additional burden on the Criminal Division — more quickly transition companies to full compliance. These self-directed measures limit the wasted effort and financial resources that are expended when companies are more focused on “teaching to the test,” so to speak, rather than make lasting improvements.

    And finally, on efficiency. The Criminal Division’s experts tackle the most complex criminal cases. These take significant effort and resources, but they don’t need to take unreasonable time. Lengthy and sprawling investigations do not serve the Department, our prosecutors, the American public, or those under investigation. Under my leadership, the Criminal Division will do its part to charge or decline quickly.

    Since issuing our new policies, I have met with the leaders in all my Sections and made it clear: we must move more quickly to get criminals off the streets and bring clarity to those under investigation. Moving cases quickly will ensure that we use our resources efficiently in service of all of the Department’s priorities.

    But you play a role in efficiency, too. Producing documents swiftly in response to requests, promptly identifying key evidence, quickly making witnesses available, and effectively navigating complex global legal regimes are just part of what we expect cooperating companies to do. To state the obvious: when the delay is due to the conduct of a subject or target, arguments regarding a supposed lack of efficiency will not resonate.

    Finally, we also expect you to work closely with our teams, to follow the process, to narrow disagreements, and to raise up issues after exhausting discussions. I rely on my prosecutors to educate me on the facts of their cases and the issues you raise. When you reach out to me or other Department leadership, you, your client, and I can all move more efficiently when those issues have been appropriately narrowed.

    Where are we now?  We’re less than thirty days since I issued the white-collar enforcement plan. In even just this short period, I can tell you we are happy with the results.

    Since the memo was issued, we have seen new voluntary self-disclosures — including for potential FCPA violations. And as you know, when one company reports misconduct, it typically leads to the discovery of similar misconduct at other companies, so you benefit from being first in the door.

    We have seen continued robust tips from whistleblowers, including in each of our newly added categories. These reports and tips cover many of the areas of focus in the white-collar memo. Just days after I announced the expansion, we received tips related to drug trafficking and corruption, procurement fraud, healthcare fraud, and more. This is just the beginning, so stay tuned.

    With these policies in place, now is the time to get to work. We’ve made changes to effectuate my mandate to charge cases in a variety of areas. The Criminal Division is full of prosecutors, who, working with our partners in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and law enforcement agencies, must be focused on just that — bringing cases. Of note to this audience, in the coming weeks I anticipate significant announcements in key priority areas, including corporate resolutions across the white-collar landscape.

    What do I want you to take away from today?  This is the time for companies to self-report. It is the time to do the work, come in early, cooperate, and remediate. The Criminal Division’s policies give clear benefits to those who do. And for those who don’t, we will move swiftly and aggressively to bring cases against individuals and companies. We will use all our tools and seek strong sentences. We will hold culpable companies and individuals to account for misconduct. 

    Thank you.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fourth Alleged Conspirator in 2023 Armored Truck Robberies Arrested in San Antonio

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was arrested Sunday on criminal charges related to his alleged role in two armored truck robberies that occurred in 2023.

    According to court documents, Achanti Christopher Tyrese Gunn aka Bonzi, 25, allegedly conspired with three co-conspirators in an armed robbery scheme in which the co-conspirators would rob armored trucks at gunpoint, taking United States currency and other items before fleeing in a getaway vehicle.

    Gunn was indicted May 7 and arrested June 8. He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted, Gunn faces up to 20 years on the conspiracy and the Hobbs Act robbery charge and seven years to life on the brandishing charge consecutive to any other sentence imposed.

    Co-defendants Daquwan Reshay Richardson, 30, Jeremiah Jerome Richardson aka Juice, 22, and Jordan Raekwon Jones aka Murda Maxx, 30, were already in custody and named in a previously filed indictment. Daquwan Richardson was arrested Aug. 21, 2023; Jeremiah Richardson was arrested July 11, 2023; and Jones was arrested Nov. 5, 2024. All four defendants face various combinations of the same charges.

    U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

    The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the San Antonio Police Department are investigating the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is prosecuting the case.

    An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    On June 9, the Madleen, a UK-flagged civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters, about 200 kilometres off the coast.

    The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had organised the voyage, setting sail from Sicily on June 1. The vessel’s 12 passengers included climate activist Greta Thunberg, European Parliament member Rima Hassan, two French journalists and several other activists from around the world.

    The Israeli military boarded the ship and diverted it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The aid it carried — baby formula, food, medical supplies, water desalination kits — was confiscated. All passengers were detained and now face deportation.

    This interception has sparked international condemnation. Importantly, it also raises questions about whether Israel’s actions comply with international law.

    Legal conditions for naval blockades

    Naval blockades are not automatically illegal. Under the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea (1994), a blockade may be used in wartime, but only if five legal conditions are met:

    • it must be formally declared and publicly notified
    • it must be effectively enforced in practice
    • it must be applied impartially to all ships
    • it must not block access to neutral ports or coastlines
    • it must not stop the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians.

    If even one of these conditions is not met, the blockade may be considered illegal under customary international humanitarian law.

    The fifth condition is especially important here. According to a comprehensive study of international humanitarian law conducted by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the parties to a conflict must allow the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief to civilians in need.

    A blockade that prevents this could be in breach of international law.

    Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade of varying degrees on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas came to power. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz claims the purpose of the blockade is to “prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas”. Critics say it amounts to collective punishment.

    The Madleen was operating in compliance with three binding International Court of Justice orders (from January 2024, March 2024 and May 2024) requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

    Freedom of navigation

    International law also strongly protects the freedom of navigation, particularly in international waters beyond any state’s territorial limits.

    There are only a few exceptions when a country can lawfully stop a foreign ship in international waters – if it is involved in piracy, slave trading, unauthorised broadcasting, or the vessel itself is stateless. A country can also stop a ship if it is enforcing a lawful blockade or acting in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

    So, if Israel’s actions do not fully meet the international legal requirements for enforcing a blockade during wartime, it would not have the right to intercept the Madleen in international waters.

    Protections for humanitarian workers

    More broadly speaking, international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, protects civilians during conflict. This protection extends to people delivering humanitarian aid, so long as they do not directly take part in hostilities.

    To be considered directly participating in hostilities, a person must:

    • intend to cause military harm
    • have a direct causal link to that harm, and
    • be acting in connection with one side of the conflict.

    Bringing aid to civilians, even if politically controversial, does not meet this legal threshold. As a result, the Madleen’s passengers remain protected civilians and should not be treated as combatants or detained arbitrarily.

    International law also sets out how civilians detained in conflict situations must be treated. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, detainees must be given access to medical care, lawyers and consular representatives. They must also not be punished without fair legal processes.

    Reports that Madleen passengers have been detained and are facing deportation raise concerns about whether these standards are being upheld.

    In response to the ship’s interception, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy group, has filed a complaint with the UK Metropolitan Police War Crimes Unit. The complaint alleges a number of breaches of international humanitarian law, including forcible detention, obstruction of humanitarian relief, and degrading treatment.

    Previous flotilla intercepted

    This is not the first time Israel has stopped an aid ship and faced accusations of violating the law of the sea and humanitarian law.

    In 2010, the Israeli military raided a flotilla of six ships organised by international activists aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge the blockade.

    Violence broke out on the largest vessel, the Mavi Marmara, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish nationals and injuries to dozens of others. The incident drew international condemnation. Israel agreed to ease its blockade after the incident.

    A fact-finding mission established by the UN Human Rights Council found that Israel violated a number of international laws and that its blockade was “inflicting disproportionate damage upon the civilian population”.

    This is not just a political or moral issue – it’s a legal one. International law lays out clear rules for when and how a country can enforce blockades, intercept vessels and treat civilians.

    Based on these rules, serious legal questions remain about Israel’s handling of the Madleen and its passengers.

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

    – ref. There are clear laws on enforcing blockades – Israel’s interception of the Madleen raises serious questions – https://theconversation.com/there-are-clear-laws-on-enforcing-blockades-israels-interception-of-the-madleen-raises-serious-questions-258562

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Juliet and Romeo strains to be meaningful but never earns its emotional crescendos

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emily Rowe, Lecturer in Early Modern Literature, King’s College London

    The new musical film Juliet and Romeo arrives on screen with lavish visuals, saccharine pop songs and a reworked Shakespearean plot that tries to dazzle. With its vivid colour palette and dreamy masquerade aesthetic, this is Verona as filtered through a Eurovision lens: glittering, melodramatic and frequently overwrought.

    Writer and director Timothy Scott Bogart and composer Evan Kidd join a lineage of Romeo and Juliet adaptations that blend music with spectacle. Who could forget Harold Perrineau’s drag rendition of Young Hearts Run Free as Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)? More recently, the stage show & Juliet (2019) used the iconic songwriting of Max Martin for a jukebox musical meets feminist retelling of the tragedy. So where does Juliet and Romeo fall in comparison?

    Let’s begin with the fair, before turning to the foul. Shot on location in the real Verona, Juliet and Romeo makes excellent use of its scenery, with inventive sets and clever staging that breathe some vitality into its world.

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    Verona’s jewel tones, candlelit street parties and endless twisting streets grant the film its fairytale quality. There’s a tactile richness to the production design that occasionally feels immersive, evoking a heightened world somewhere between Shakespeare’s imagined Verona and a perfume advert. The array of fight, dance, and crowd scenes are well-choreographed and the camera often moves with an energetic theatricality that hints at what the musical could have been.

    Unfortunately, the music doesn’t keep pace. While the pop soundtrack is relentlessly inoffensive – think bubblegum ballads and power choruses – it lacks the lyrical bite or emotional weight needed to sustain a tragedy.

    With sugary harmonies and banal lyrics, these numbers evoke more Eurovision than Elizabethan drama – not inherently a bad thing, but in this case, it results in emotional flatness. For example, a number like Better Than This, led with verve by Martina Ortiz Luis as Veronica, stands out slightly with its charming melody and joyful choreography. It’s a moment of brightness that briefly lifts the energy. But even that slips into the overall sameness of the score. At its best, the music is cutesy; at its worst, it’s filler.

    The trailer for Juliet & Romeo.

    The character work is similarly uneven. Juliet (Clara Rugaard) emerges as the most compelling figure – wry, self-aware, and played with just enough spunk to avoid cliché. Romeo (Jamie Ward), by contrast, is a forgettable boy-band archetype, rebelling weakly against a domineering father (Jason Isaacs channelling medieval Lucius Malfoy) and contributing little beyond brooding charm.

    Derek Jacobi’s gravitas is squandered on narration and playing the hapless Friar Lawrence. Juliet and Romeo opens with a flurry of historical exposition delivered by Jacobi: medieval Italy, papal politics, the splintering of city-states, and the threat of “mighty Rome” coming for Verona. It’s an ambitious – if unnecessary – reframing that sets up a late-stage twist that gestures toward a sequel.

    The supporting cast is also a mix of intriguing choices and tonal confusion. Mercutio’s (Nicholas Podany) subplot, involving his own forbidden love and tense relationship with an adoptive Montague patriarch, hints at deeper parallels to the central couple, but is never fully developed. The apothecary (Dan Fogler), bafflingly, gets a solo about alchemical experiments that feels lifted from a mid-tier Disney sequel. Meanwhile, the nurse (Sara Lazzaro), usually a comedic gem, is stripped of humour entirely.

    The Mask I Wear from Juliet & Romeo.

    A standout number comes from Rebel Wilson’s Lady Capulet and Verona’s women, who lament in The Mask I Wear about the constraints of femininity in well-arranged harmony. Yet the song’s emotional resonance is blunted by underwritten character arcs. The women sing beautifully, but we barely know why they’re angry.

    In the end, Juliet and Romeo is a musical that strains to be meaningful but never earns its emotional crescendos. It gestures toward political intrigue, feminist revision and star-crossed romance, but settles for spectacle. Still, with its sparkling visuals and glossy score, for fans of unapologetic musical fanfare, there’s some joy to be found in the glitter.

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

    – ref. Juliet and Romeo strains to be meaningful but never earns its emotional crescendos – https://theconversation.com/juliet-and-romeo-strains-to-be-meaningful-but-never-earns-its-emotional-crescendos-258507

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ positions US energy to be more costly for consumers and the climate

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniel Cohan, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University

    Proposed revisions to U.S. energy policy would likely raise consumer prices and climate-warming emissions. zpagistock/Moment via Getty Images

    When it comes to energy policy, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – the official name of a massive federal tax-cut and spending bill that House Republicans passed in May 2025 – risks raising Americans’ energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

    The 1,100-page bill would slash incentives for green technologies such as solar, wind, batteries, electric cars and heat pumps while subsidizing existing nuclear power plants and biofuels. That would leave the country and its people burning more fossil fuels despite strong popular and scientific support for a rapid shift to renewable energy.

    The bill may still be revised by the Senate before it moves to a final vote. But it is a picture of how President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans want to reshape U.S. energy policy.

    As an environmental engineering professor who studies ways to confront climate change, I think it is important to distinguish which technologies could rapidly cut emissions or are on the verge of becoming viable from those that do little to fight climate change. Unfortunately, the House bill favors the latter while nixing support for the former.

    Renewable energy

    Wind and solar power, often paired with batteries, are providing over 90% of the new electricity currently being added to the grid nationally and around the world. Geothermal power is undergoing technological breakthroughs. With natural gas turbines in short supply and long lead times to build other resources, renewables and batteries offer the fastest way to satisfy growing demand for power.

    However, the House bill rescinds billions of dollars that the Inflation Reduction Act, enacted in 2022, devoted to boosting domestic manufacturing and deployments of renewable energy and batteries.

    It would terminate tax credits for manufacturing for the wind industry in 2028 and for solar and batteries in 2032. That would disrupt the boom in domestic manufacturing projects that was being stimulated by the Inflation Reduction Act.

    Deployments would be hit even harder. Wind, solar, geothermal and battery projects would need to commence construction within 60 days of passage of the bill to receive tax credits.

    In addition, the bill would deny tax credits to projects that use Chinese-made components. Financial analysts have called those provisions “unworkable,” since some Chinese materials may be necessary even for projects built with as much domestic content as possible.

    Analysts warn that the House bill would cut new wind, solar and battery installations by 20% compared with the growth that had been expected without the bill. That’s why BloombergNEF, an energy research firm, called the bill a “nightmare scenario” for clean energy proponents.

    However, one person’s nightmare may be another man’s dream. “We’re constraining the hell out of wind and solar, which is good,” said Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican backed by the oil and gas industry.

    Wind turbines and solar panels generate renewable energy side by side near Palm Springs, Calif.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Efficiency and electric cars

    Cuts fall even harder on Americans who are trying to reduce their carbon footprints and energy costs. The bill repeals aid for home efficiency improvements such as heat pumps, efficient windows and energy audits. Homeowners would also lose tax credits for installing solar panels and batteries.

    For vehicles, the bill would not only repeal tax credits for electric cars, trucks and chargers, but it also would impose a federal $250 annual fee on vehicles, on top of fees that some states charge electric-car owners. The federal fee is more than the gas taxes paid by other drivers to fund highways and ignores air-quality and climate effects.

    Combined, the lost credits and increased fees could cut projected U.S. sales of electric vehicles by 40% in 2030, according to modeling by Jesse Jenkins of Princeton University.

    Nuclear power

    Meanwhile, the bill partially retains a tax credit for electricity from existing nuclear power plants. Those plants may not need the help: Electricity demand is surging, and companies like Meta are signing long-term deals for nuclear energy to power data centers. Nuclear plants are also paid to manage their radioactive waste, since the country lacks a permanent place to store it.

    For new nuclear plants, the bill would move up the deadline to 2028 to begin construction. That deadline is too soon for some new reactor designs and would rush the vetting of others. Nuclear safety regulators are awaiting a study from the National Academies on the weapons proliferation risks of the type of uranium fuel that some developers hope to use in newer designs.

    The House-passed bill would protect government subsidies for existing nuclear power plants, like the one in the background, while limiting support for wind turbines.
    Scott Olson/Getty Images

    Biofuels

    While cutting funding for electric vehicles, the bill would spend $45 billion to extend tax credits for biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

    Food-based biofuels do little good for the climate because growing, harvesting and processing crops requires fertilizers, pesticides and fuel. The bill would allow forests to be cut to make room for crops because it directs agencies to ignore the impacts of biofuels on land use.

    Hydrogen

    The bill would end tax credits for hydrogen production. Without that support, companies will be unlikely to invest in the seven so-called “hydrogen hubs” that were allocated a combined $8 billion under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Those hubs aim to attract $40 billion in private investments and create tens of thousands of jobs while developing cleaner ways to make hydrogen.

    The repealed tax credits would have subsidized hydrogen made emissions-free by using renewable or nuclear electricity to split water molecules. They also would have subsidized hydrogen made from natural gas with carbon capture, whose benefits are impaired by methane emissions from natural gas systems and incomplete carbon capture.

    However it’s made, hydrogen is no panacea. As the world’s smallest molecule, hydrogen is prone to leaking, which can pose safety challenges and indirectly warm the climate. And while hydrogen is essential for making fertilizers and potentially useful for making steel or aviation fuels, vehicles and heating are more efficiently powered by electricity than by hydrogen.

    Still, European governments and China are investing heavily in hydrogen production.

    As Congress deliberates on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the nation’s energy agenda is one of many issues being hotly debated.
    Kevin Carter/Getty Images

    Summing it up

    The conservative Tax Foundation estimates that the House bill would cut the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits by about half, saving the government $50 billion a year. But with fewer efficiency improvements, fewer electric vehicles and less clean power on the grid, Princeton’s Jenkins projects American households would pay up to $415 more per year for energy by 2035 than if the bill’s provisions were not enacted. If the bill’s provisions make it into law, the extra fossil fuel-burning would leave annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 1 billion tons higher by then.

    No one expected former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to escape unscathed with Republicans in the White House and dominating both houses of Congress. Still, the proposed cuts target the technologies Americans count on to protect the climate and save consumers money.

    Daniel Cohan receives funding from the Carbon Hub at Rice University.

    – ref. How the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ positions US energy to be more costly for consumers and the climate – https://theconversation.com/how-the-big-beautiful-bill-positions-us-energy-to-be-more-costly-for-consumers-and-the-climate-257783

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Funding for better, safer public transport

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Canberra will welcome more electric buses plus improved safety measures for bus drivers and commuters.

    In brief:

    • The 2025–26 ACT Budget invests in the city’s public transport system.
    • Thirty new electric buses will be added to Canberra’s bus fleet, and more services added.
    • There will be new measures to improve the safety of bus drivers and commuters.

    2025–26 ACT Budget funding will see more electric buses added to the city’s public transport network.

    The ACT Government will also invest in measures to improve safety for bus drivers and commuters.

    Strengthening Canberra’s public transport network

    The Budget will fund the addition of 30 new battery electric buses.

    These will join the city’s growing public transport network. This now includes Australia’s largest purpose-built zero-emissions bus depot in Woden.

    The new buses are part of the ACT Government’s plan for a truly integrated transport system.

    The plan sees light rail forming the spine of the city with electric buses connecting the suburbs.

    More Sunday bus services

    The Budget sets the foundation for bus service changes on Sundays.

    Funding will support more frequent Sunday services, increasing public transport options for Canberrans.

    This will begin during Term 3 this year.

    This is part of the ACT Government’s broader plan to deliver more public transport services more often, including:

    • 20-minute local services
    • future new Rapid services.

    Making bus travel safer for all

    The Budget includes funding for measures to improve safety on ACT buses. This will include:

    • a dedicated bus safety team with new frontline staff
    • expanded training for bus drivers
    • upgraded cabin protection screens across the Transport Canberra bus fleet.

    This supports practical measures to improve safety. It also recognises and supports bus drivers’ important role in the community.

    Extra transit enforcement and network officers will be deployed across the bus network.

    This will increase the visibility of staff and help deter violence and anti-social behaviour.

    Expanded specialist de-escalation training will help empower bus drivers.

    The addition of upgraded protective screens in all buses will provide a better physical barrier for drivers. This will help protect them from abuse or assault.

    Fare compliance activities will be similar to those in place on light rail.

    This commitment will help ensure a better, safer public transport system, with more services, more often.

    Read more like this:

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: iPower and Borg Rise U.S. Enter Strategic Partnership to Expand Social Media Commerce

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iPower Inc. (Nasdaq: IPW) (“iPower” or the “Company”), a tech and data-driven eCommerce service provider and online retailer, today announced a strategic partnership with Borg Rise U.S., a dynamic and fast-growing player in digital content and social media commerce. This partnership marks a key milestone in iPower’s strategy to expand its omnichannel presence through influencer-driven and content-based sales models across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

    Borg Rise U.S., with its strong network of content creators, livestreaming infrastructure, and experience in cross-border digital commerce, will collaborate with iPower to build and scale innovative social commerce campaigns. These campaigns will bridge content and conversion, enabling more direct, engaging, and high-converting consumer experiences.

    “We’re excited to team up with Borg Rise U.S. to unlock the potential of social-driven retail,” said Lawrence Tan, CEO of iPower. “This collaboration strengthens our ability to connect brands with audiences where they spend their time and attention—on social media—by turning inspiration into seamless purchasing.”

    Under this partnership, iPower and Borg Rise U.S. will work together to:

    • Co-develop influencer campaigns, live selling initiatives, and digital storefronts
    • Expand iPower’s SuperSuite service offerings into social commerce enablement
    • Leverage content performance data to enhance targeting and personalization
    • Onboard emerging brands and help them scale through creator ecosystems

    This strategic alliance is expected to further iPower’s mission to empower sellers and entrepreneurs with the tools, data, and distribution channels needed to thrive in today’s evolving digital retail landscape.

    About iPower Inc.

    iPower Inc. is a tech and data-driven online retailer, as well as a provider of value-added eCommerce services for third-party products and brands. iPower’s capabilities include a full spectrum of online channels, robust fulfillment capacity, a nationwide network of warehouses, competitive last-mile delivery partners, and a differentiated business intelligence platform. For more information, visit www.meetipower.com.

    About Borg Rise U.S.

    Borg Rise U.S. is a next-generation digital commerce company focused on livestreaming, influencer marketing, and cross-border social commerce. With strengths in content development, platform operations, and community-driven conversion, Borg Rise U.S. empowers brands to unlock growth through immersive digital experiences.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements other than statements of historical fact in this press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that iPower believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. iPower undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although iPower believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and iPower cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results and performance in iPower’s most recent  Report on Form 10-K and in its other SEC filings.

    Investor Relations Contact
     IPW.IR@meetipower.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre: letters of support

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre: letters of support

    The UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation has received letters of support from leading figures in Holocaust education and remembrance, encouraging Peers to vote in favour of the UK Holocaust Memorial Bill.

    Documents

    Letter from ’45 Aid Society

    PDF, 945 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from the Board of Deputies of British Jews

    PDF, 254 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from Community Security Trust

    PDF, 152 KB, 3 pages

    Letter from Holocaust Educational Trust

    PDF, 299 KB, 1 page

    Letter from Holocaust Memorial Day Trust

    PDF, 151 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from the Office of the Chief Rabbi

    PDF, 185 KB, 1 page

    Letter from Holocaust Centre North

    PDF, 684 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from the Jewish Leadership Council

    PDF, 67.6 KB, 1 page

    Letter from the Metropolitan Police

    PDF, 342 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from Lord Stevens

    PDF, 195 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from National Holocaust Museum

    PDF, 4.35 MB, 3 pages

    Letter from Shoah Foundation

    PDF, 194 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from UCL Institute of Education

    PDF, 97.1 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from the co-chairs of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation

    PDF, 121 KB, 2 pages

    Letter from UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre Academic Advisory Board

    PDF, 143 KB, 4 pages

    Letter from The Wiener Holocaust Library

    PDF, 200 KB, 1 page

    Details

    The UK Holocaust Memorial Bill will return to the House of Lords on Wednesday, 11 June. In anticipation, the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation has received letters of support from 16 individuals and organisations, urging Peers to support the Bill. Prominent figures in Holocaust education, Jewish organisations, and security services have voiced their support of the Bill and encourage Peers to do the same.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 June 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Only 11% of Teams Have Scaled AI: Order.co’s 2025 Benchmark Report Reveals Urgent Gap in Procurement, Finance, and Ops

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Order.co, the world’s leading B2B Ecommerce Platform, today announced its release of an exclusive report, The State of AI in Procurement, Finance & Operations: 2025 Benchmark Report, detailing how back-office teams leverage AI based on a survey of 100+ professionals in procurement, finance, and accounting roles. Participants ranged from individual contributors to C-Suite leaders across a diverse range of industries, including retail, property management, health and wellness, nonprofits, and more.

    The report breaks down the impressive results that early AI adopters have already achieved, analyzes the most common barriers to adoption, and offers a 7-stage AI adoption maturity model to help businesses succeed in their AI initiatives.

    “AI transformation is happening in the back office faster than people might realize,” said Matt Garippa, Chief Business Officer and Co-founder at Order.co. “Whether teams are just getting started or are well into their AI adoption journey, understanding real-world use cases can help them move faster and avoid costly missteps. The businesses that will come out ahead are the ones taking action now, not waiting on the sidelines.”

    Key findings from the report:

    • 70% of organizations are actively exploring AI, yet only 11% have fully implemented it
    • Early AI adopters report transformational results:
      • Up to 50% cost savings
      • 31–50% faster workflows
      • 75% fewer procurement errors
    • 91.7% of procurement teams are leveraging or planning to use AI for advanced spend analysis
    • 80% of finance teams use AI for fraud detection and anomaly monitoring
    • 83% of operations teams report AI as essential for process optimization and workflow automation

    The report also features direct quotes from survey respondents, offering firsthand insights into how they plan to leverage AI in their specific roles. One Billing & Supplies Coordinator at a Law Firm shared, “I’m hopeful that with Generative AI, we’ll be able to assess costs more quickly and develop a better spending plan with improved item organization.” From a procurement and operations perspective, a Senior Director of Operations in the Retail Industry noted, “AI-driven analytics will likely enhance our ability to forecast demand more accurately, optimize supply chains, and even predict maintenance needs for physical products.”

    Download the report to access all findings and find out how to unlock measurable gains in speed, accuracy, and strategic decision-making with AI: https://get.order.co/content/ai-benchmark-report/

    About Order.co

    Order.co simplifies business buying by combining the ease of online shopping with the sophistication of world-class purchase order and AP automation. The result? Businesses cut costs and complexity with every order.

    Hundreds of companies, like WeWork and Hugo Boss, leverage Order.co to centralize purchase-to-pay workflows, scale operations, and gain total control over spending – saving an average of 5% on products. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in New York City, Order.co has raised $50M in funding from industry-leading investors like MIT, Stage 2 Capital, Rally Ventures, 645 Ventures, and more.

    Media Contact

    Allison Reich
    Senior Manager of Brand, Content & Enablement
    Allison.reich@order.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – Bishops demand “clarity on the death of Albert Ojwang in police custody”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “We are deeply disturbed by the tragic and suspicious death of Albert Ojwang while in police custody. His death is not just a personal loss to his family, but a painful wound to our national conscience and a reminder of the urgent need for accountability in our justice system,” is what the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) expressed, demanding clarification on the death of Albert Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher and influencer who died on June 8 while in pre-trial detention.Ojwang was arrested on June 6 at the family home in Kakot, Homa Bay County, following a social media post that allegedly defamed Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. He was taken more than 350 kilometers to Nairobi Central Police Station and charged with violating a cybercrime law. On June 8, he was found unconscious in his cell during a routine check, apparently with head injuries. Police alleged he had committed suicide by repeatedly banging his head against a wall, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mbagathi Hospital. However, the family’s lawyer reported that the body showed severe trauma, including head swelling, bruises, and bleeding from the nose and mouth, signs that do not match the official police account.Kenya’s Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has launched an inquiry into his death. The Inspectorate General of Police has suspended six officers stationed at Nairobi Central Police Station as a precautionary measure while the exact circumstances of Ojwang’s death are investigated.” We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the late Albert Ojwang. We share in their grief and in the public’s rightful demand for truth and justice,” the episcopal statement continues.” We strongly support the directive by the Inspector General to interdict officers linked to this case and urge that investigations be swift, transparent, and free from interference. No one is above the law, and those found culpable must face full legal consequences,” the bishops add. Ojwang’s case comes amid a climate of growing social tension, following the Generation Z protests in 2024 (see Fides, 1/7/2024), which were harshly repressed by the authorities and left 60 dead.Furthermore, between 2020 and 2024, more than 100 deaths in custody were recorded, according to data from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which has intensified demands for profound reform of the police force. In this context, the bishops called on Kenyan youth to remain calm. “At this difficult time, we call upon all Kenyans, especially the youth, to remain calm, peaceful, and prayerful. Let us not be provoked into violence or division. Our strength is in our unity and our collective demand for justice through lawful means.” “We remind our institutions: the measure of any just society is how it treats the vulnerable. Let this not be another case swept under the rug. Let Albert Ojwang’s name not be added to a growing list of forgotten victims,” the prelates conclude.The Supreme Council of Muslims of Kenya has also requested a transparent investigation into the death of the young teacher, while calling on the population to remain calm. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/6/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Shooter kills at least nine in attack on Austrian school, mayor says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A shooter killed at least nine people and wounded many others in an attack at a secondary school in the southern Austrian city of Graz on Tuesday, the city’s mayor said.

    Graz Mayor Elke Kahr was quoted by Austrian news agency APA as saying the attacker was also dead, and that many of the injured had been taken to hospital following the shooting, which she called a “terrible tragedy”.

    Police gave no initial toll but said “several” people were dead and they were working in the assumption there was only one attacker. APA video showed emergency workers loading a stretcher into an ambulance.

    The reports did not specify how many of the dead were pupils. Ambulances were on the scene outside the school.

    A local police spokesman said the area had been secured, the school had been evacuated and relatives of the victims and pupils were being cared for.

    “There is no further danger for the population, but there are several dead,” he told Austrian television.

    Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper cited unconfirmed reports as saying the suspect was a 22-year-old former student who carried two weapons – a pistol and a shotgun. Kronen Zeitung tabloid said a suspect had been found dead in a bathroom. Reuters could not immediately confirm this.

    UNBEARABLE

    “It’s incomprehensible and unbearable. My sympathy and grief go out to the victims and their families. No one can imagine the suffering; as a mother of three children, it breaks my heart,” Austria’s Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger wrote on X.

    European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on X: “Every child should feel safe at school and be able to learn free from fear and violence. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and the Austrian people in this dark moment.”

    Austria has one of the most heavily armed civilian populations in Europe, with an estimated 30 firearms per 100 persons, according to the Small Arms Survey, an independent research project.

    Machine guns and pump action guns are banned, while revolvers, pistols and semi-automatic weapons are allowed only with official authorization. Rifles and shotguns are permitted with a firearms license or a valid hunting licence, or for members of traditional shooting clubs.

    Four people were killed and 22 injured when a convicted jihadist went on a shooting spree in the centre of Vienna in 2020. In November 1997, a 36-year-old mechanic shot dead six people in the town of Mauterndorf before killing himself.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Economics: W&T Announces Appointment of Presiding Director for 2025

    Source: W & T Offshore Inc

    Headline: W&T Announces Appointment of Presiding Director for 2025

    HOUSTON, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: WTI) (“W&T” or the “Company”) today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) appointed Mr. John D. Buchanan as Presiding Director for 2025. He has served in that role since the 2024 Annual General Meeting and will continue as Presiding Director this year. Mr. Buchanan joined the Board in April 2024 and has more than 30 years of experience as a seasoned oil and gas, commercial and banking attorney, in addition to his prior service as a military officer.

    Tracy W. Krohn, W&T’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, “We are very pleased that our Board has named John as our continuing Presiding Director. That position serves a valuable leadership role on our Board and John’s extensive legal experience in the energy industry and banking industry has served him well in that Board capacity. John has been a valuable advisor to and served several Boards for large public companies prior to joining our Board.”

    About Mr. Buchanan

    Mr. Buchanan has served in top legal roles as Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel/Corporate Secretary at several S&P 500 companies. Mr. Buchanan most recently served at ExxonMobil Corporation (“Exxon”) as an Assistant General Counsel where he also served as the Secretary to the Exxon Audit Committee and the Exxon Finance Committee. Mr. Buchanan also previously served in the top legal role with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, where he was the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Mr. Buchanan has held a number of other Chief Legal Officer positions over the course of his career at various S&P 500 financial institutions. Mr. Buchanan has served on numerous committees and boards of directors during his career, including the board of directors for Mercedes Benz US International Inc., with service as the Chair of the Audit Committee. Prior to his legal career Mr. Buchanan was a U.S. Army officer, helicopter pilot and paratrooper, serving with distinction.

    Mr. Buchanan holds a Master’s of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law and a Juris Doctorate degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law. He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Washington & Lee University.

    About W&T Offshore

    W&T Offshore, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas producer with operations offshore in the Gulf of America and has grown through acquisitions, exploration and development. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had working interests in 52 fields in federal and state waters (which include 45 fields in federal waters and seven in state waters). The Company has under lease approximately 634,700 gross acres (496,900 net acres) spanning across the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with approximately 487,200 gross acres on the conventional shelf, approximately 141,900 gross acres in the deepwater and 5,600 gross acres in Alabama state waters. A majority of the Company’s daily production is derived from wells it operates. For more information on W&T, please visit the Company’s website at www.wtoffshore.com.

         
    CONTACT: Al Petrie Sameer Parasnis
      Investor Relations Coordinator Executive VP and CFO
      investorrelations@wtoffshore.com sparasnis@wtoffshore.com
      713-297-8024 713-513-8654

    Source: W&T Offshore, Inc.

    Released June 10, 2025

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Amnesty slams Israel for flouting international law with ‘chilling contempt’ over Madleen

    Asia Pacific Report

    Amnesty International secretary-general Agnès Callamard has condemned Israel’s interception and detention of the 12 crew members aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s humanitarian aid yacht Madleen.

    The crew detained include Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who has been designated by Amnesty International as an “Ambassador of Conscience”, reports Amnesty International in a statement.

    She has since been reported to have been deported back to her country via France.

    Madleen’s crew were trying to break Israel’s illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip and take in desperately needed humanitarian supplies.

    They were illegally detained by Israeli forces in international waters while en route.

    In response, Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

    “By forcibly intercepting and blocking the Madleen which was carrying humanitarian aid and a crew of solidarity activists, Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice,” secretary-general Callamard said.

    Operation ‘violates international law’
    “The operation carried out in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and put the safety of those on the boat at risk.

    “The crew were unarmed activists and human rights defenders on a humanitarian mission, they must be released immediately and unconditionally.

    “They must also be protected from torture and other ill-treatment pending their release.

    Callamard said that during its voyage over the past few days the Madleen’s mission emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians amid persistent international inaction.

    “However, this very mission is also an indictment of the international community’s failure to put an end to Israel’s inhumane blockade.

    “Activists would not have needed to risk their lives had Israel’s allies translated their rhetoric into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza.”

    Global calls for safe passage
    Israel’s interception of the Madleen despite global calls for it to be granted safe passage underscored the longstanding impunity Israel enjoyed which has emboldened it to continue to commit genocide in Gaza and to maintain a suffocating, illegal blockade on Gaza for 18 years, Callamard said.

    “Until we see real concrete steps by states worldwide signalling an end to their blanket support for Israel, it will have carte blanche to continue inflicting relentless death and suffering on Palestinians.”

    Amnesty International in New Zealand also called on Foreign Minister Winston Peters to stand up and call out the enforced starvation and genocide that Israel was imposing on Palestinians.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: App labelled national security risk

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Police Force’s National Security Department (NSD) said today that the public should not download a mobile app named “Reversed Front: Bonfire” or provide funding to its developer as the app promotes acts and activities endangering national security.

    It added that those who have downloaded the app should uninstall it immediately.

    In a press statement, the NSD said “Reversed Front: Bonfire” was released under the guise of a game promoting secessionist agendas such as “Taiwan independence” and “Hong Kong independence”, and which advocates armed revolution and the overthrow of the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China.

    It is also designed to provoke hatred towards the central authorities and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the NSD added.

    The department stressed that persons or organisations who knowingly publish the app or content relating to it, which includes sharing or recommending the app to others online, may commit offences of “incitement to secession” and “incitement to subversion” under the Hong Kong National Security Law, or “offences in connection with seditious intention” under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.

    Moreover, those who have downloaded the app may be regarded as being in possession of a publication that has a seditious intention.

    Under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, a person who, without reasonable excuse, possesses a publication that has a seditious intention, commits an offence.

    A person who provides pecuniary assistance, or property, to the developer, which includes making payment through in-app purchases, with an intent to fund the commission of secession or subversion, also commits an offence.

    With approval from the Secretary for Security, the NSD has implemented a disabling action on electronic messages relating to “Reversed Front: Bonfire” in accordance with the Implementation Rules for Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

    The NSD emphasised that acts or activities endangering national security are extremely serious offences. It added that the force will ensure that the law is observed and strictly enforced, and will take resolute actions to bring offenders to account.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Last year pawnshops issued loans to citizens for 302 billion rubles

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Central Bank of Russia –

    This is a quarter more than the year before. The main reason for this growth is the steady increase in gold prices. 94% of loans are issued against gold items as collateral. At the same time, the number of concluded agreements remained at the same level – 16.6 million per year.

    Due to the growth in gold prices, the average loan amount also increased — from 16 to 21 thousand rubles. The total cost of loans (TCL) of pawnshops did not exceed 120% per annum. Rates vary significantly depending on the type of collateral — for example, for loans secured by a car, they are traditionally lower. For certain groups of citizens — pensioners, people with disabilities, large families — pawnshops offer preferential loan terms.

    Large chain pawnshops are actively developing digital channels of interaction with clients: more than half issue non-cash loans and accept payments online.

    Most borrowers try to repay the loan themselves in order to get back the collateral. 84% of loans are repaid in this way. For small pawnshops focused on retaining their customer base, this share is even higher. The rest of the loans are repaid by selling the pledged item. If the sale price exceeds the borrower’s obligations, the client retains the right to contact the pawnshop within three years to get back the pawned item. difference.

    Read more in the publication “Pawnshop Market Development Trends in 2024”.

    Preview photo: Vasanty / Shutterstock / Fotodom

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    HTTPS: //VVV.KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 24692

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Invest Hong Kong Hosts policy briefing for professional services sector to promote Hong Kong’s family office development (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) today (June 10) hosted the Hong Kong Wealth Management and Professional Services Policy Briefing, targeting legal and professional services firms from the Mainland. The event provided deep insights into Hong Kong’s latest policy developments including family office policies and tax incentives. The session was well received, drawing participation from over 60 representatives of legal and professional firms serving high-net-worth clients. The event sparked active discussions, with participants expressing keen interest and strong confidence in the evolving role of Hong Kong’s professional services sector and the future of Hong Kong’s family office ecosystem.

    Key topics covered included interpretation of Hong Kong’s latest family office policies, comparisons with regional regimes and tax incentives, case studies and a question-and-answer session. The session aimed to enhance understanding among legal and advisory firms of Hong Kong’s policy landscape, strengthen participant’s positioning as cross-border advisors to ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), and facilitate the development of business networks in Hong Kong.

    Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Charles Ng said, “Hong Kong is the leading hub for asset and wealth management in Asia with over US$4 trillion in assets under management. Our city is recognised as a trusted gateway for global capital seeking access to opportunities across Asia and beyond. Our leadership is further evidenced by our standing as Asia’s largest hedge fund hub and Asia’s largest cross-border wealth management centre. The professional services sector plays a strategic and indispensable role in enabling this ecosystem to flourish. InvestHK is committed to working closely with legal, accounting, trust, and advisory professionals to promote policy understanding and strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness in cross-border wealth management and succession planning.”

    Legal professionals attending the event provided perspectives on Hong Kong’s family office policies and the growing opportunities arising from them. The Chair of the Family Office Committee at the Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Chan Chak-ming, said, “With increasing interest from UHNWIs in Asia, Hong Kong’s forward-looking initiatives, including tax incentives and efficient market processes, solidify its position as the region’s leading destination for family offices. Together with InvestHK, we aim to strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a nexus for global wealth, ensuring it remains responsive to the sophisticated needs of UHNWIs while reinforcing trust and long-term confidence.”

    InvestHK will continue to collaborate with industry stakeholders to support legal and advisory firms in expanding their high-end wealth services in Hong Kong, and to promote the city as a premier hub for family offices and a cross-border wealth management centre in Asia, helping Mainland and international families of UHNWIs achieve long-term goals in asset growth and succession.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SJ at 3rd Anniversary of Opening of AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, at the 3rd Anniversary of the Opening of AALCO (Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization) Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre today (June 10):

    Mr Nick Chan (Director of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre), Deputy Commissioner Mr Fang Jianming (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), heads of AALCO disputes resolution centres, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

         A very good afternoon. It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you today as we mark a significant milestone – the third anniversary of the AALCO Hong Kong Regional Arbitration Centre. Over the past three years, AALCO Hong Kong has not only flourished but has also become a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s reputation as a world-class destination for international dispute resolution. Today, we celebrate not just an institution, but a shared vision: a future where Hong Kong continues to maintain and strengthen our status as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

         Three years ago, AALCO’s choice to establish its newest regional arbitration centre in Hong Kong reflected AALCO members’ resounding confidence in our city’s rule of law, legal talent, and many other unique advantages as an international financial centre and legal services and disputes resolution centre under the principle of “one country, two systems”, and of course, also Hong Kong’s location, being the heart of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development and an important gateway of the Belt and Road Initiative.  

         Since its establishment, AALCO Hong Kong has made significant contributions in enhancing Hong Kong’s regional arbitration capabilities. By providing a neutral and efficient platform for dispute resolution, AALCO Hong Kong has facilitated the settlement of cross-border commercial disputes, reinforcing confidence in the legal systems of Asian and African economies.  

         AALCO Hong Kong has also organised various seminars and training programmes for capacity building of dispute resolution professionals and international collaboration by working closely with governments, arbitral institutions, and legal bodies to harmonise arbitration practices across different jurisdictions, especially in the GBA and the Belt and Road regions. For example, we are very happy to see that AALCO Hong Kong supported the Second Instalment of the 7th Belt and Road Conference hosted by the Law Society of Hong Kong, which featured engaging and fruitful dialogues in promoting a peaceful dispute resolution worldwide. 

         I wish to extend my deepest congratulations and gratitude to AALCO, the legal community, and all stakeholders who have supported AALCO Hong Kong’s growth. This milestone is not just a proof to AALCO Hong Kong’s achievements over the past three years, but also a reflection of Hong Kong’s growing role as a leading hub for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. As we look ahead, the demand for arbitration and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services will grow, driven by increasing cross-border trade, Belt and Road Initiative projects, digital economy disputes, and international sports events.  

         Let us reaffirm our commitment to advancing the edge of arbitration, promoting ADR, and building a more interconnected legal and dispute resolution landscape for Asia, Africa, and beyond. To conclude, I wish AALCO Hong Kong many more years of success. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Frontex Consultative Forum publishes its twelfth annual report

    Source: Frontex

    Today, the Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights published its 12th annual report. The report outlines the main observations and recommendations that the Forum shared throughout 2024 with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and its Management Board to strengthen fundamental rights protection in Frontex activities.

    Throughout 2024, the Consultative Forum played a pivotal role in enhancing the integration of fundamental rights into Frontex’s operational and training frameworks. The Forum visited operations in Cyprus, Albania, Greece, the Republic of North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Serbia and actively contributed to the identification of vulnerabilities within Frontex VEGA operations. Cooperation between the Forum and Frontex increased and resulted in the refining of Frontex strategies, guidelines and manuals towards fundamental rights compliance.

    However, the Consultative Forum calls for the full integration of fundamental rights-safeguards and mitigating measures into the operational plans in agreement with the Member States. The Consultative Forum acknowledges the efforts of the Agency in establishing a Fundamental Rights Compliance Board. In 2025, it will be important to observe to what extent Frontex follows the Consultative Forum’s and the Fundamental Rights Officer’s advice and what means it uses to monitor the implementation of safeguards, introduces thresholds and progressively conditions its support to the Member States.

    The Executive Director of Frontex, Hans Leijtens, engaged constructively with the Consultative Forum and made efforts to increase transparency concerning Frontex’s activities. From its end, the Consultative Forum appreciated Frontex’s openness to receive the Forum’s advice. While acknowledging these efforts, the Consultative Forums remains seriously concerned about continuous allegations of violations of fundamental rights being reported in different countries, coupled with lack of independent monitoring and insufficient investigations into the incidents in the Member States. As recent judgements from European Human Rights bodies indicate, fundamental rights enshrined in the EU legislation are still too often challenged by questionable practices and lack of remedial actions.

    The publication of the Annual Report 2024 underscores the Forum’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the promotion of fundamental rights within Europe’s border management landscape. The Forum looks forward to further advising Frontex in pursuit of a fair, humane, and rights-respecting approach to border management that promotes accountability and upholds the highest standards of fundamental rights across all operational contexts. 

    The full report is available here.

    Created in 2012, the Consultative Forum brings together key European institutions, international and civil society organisations to advise the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in fundamental rights matters.

    The Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights is currently chaired by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and further composed of representatives from Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe; Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe; Council of Europe; European Union Agency for Asylum; Global Campus for Human Rights; International Organization for Migration; Jesuit Refugee Service Europe; Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; OSCE-Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights; Rule of Law Institute Foundation and Save the Children.

    Please see here for all Consultative Forum information: Members (europa.eu)

    Please contact us: consultative.forum@frontex.europa.eu

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s opening remarks at press conference at Ocean Conference [Full transcript, scroll down for French]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Good morning,
     
    We are in Nice on a mission – save the ocean, to save our future.

    That was my message at the Conference opening yesterday, and it is the message I have carried through all my meetings.
     
    The ocean is the lifeblood of our planet.
     
    It produces half of the oxygen we breathe, nourishes billions of people, supports hundreds of millions of jobs, and underpins global trade.
     
    For many, the ocean is more than a source of food and livelihood.
     
    It shapes cultures…anchors identities… and feeds the soul.
     
    Yet, we are treating it like a limitless resource – pretending it can absorb our abuse without consequence.
     
    Every year, we see more troubling signs that our ocean is under siege.
     
    Fish populations are collapsing due to reckless illegal fishing and overexploitation.
     
    Climate change is driving ocean acidification and heating – destroying coral reefs, accelerating sea level rise, and threatening communities worldwide.
     
    And plastic pollution is choking marine life and infesting our food chain – ultimately ending up in our blood and even our brains.
     
    When we poison the ocean, we poison ourselves.
     
    Dear friends,
     
    There’s a tipping point approaching – beyond which recovery may become impossible.
     
    And let us be clear:
     
    Powerful interests are pushing us towards the brink.
     
    We are facing a hard battle, against a clear enemy.
     
    Its name is greed.
     
    Greed that sows doubt… denies science… distorts truth… rewards corruption… and destroys life for profit.
     
    We cannot let greed dictate the fate of our planet.
     
    That is why we are here this week: to stand in solidarity against those forces and reclaim what belongs to us all.
     
    Governments, business leaders, fishers, scientists…  everyone has a responsibility and a vital role to play.
     
    Throughout my many engagements at the Conference, I have highlighted four priorities.
     
    First – we must transform how we harvest the ocean’s bounty.
     
    It is not about fishing, it’s about how we fish.
     
    Sustainable fishing is not a choice – it is our only option.
     
    This means stronger global cooperation, strict enforcement against illegal fishing, and expanded protected areas to rebuild stocks and safeguard marine life.
     
    And it means delivering on the 30 by 30 target – to conserve and manage at least 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas by 2030.
     
    We have a moral duty to ensure future generations inherit oceans swarming with life.
     
    Second – we must confront the plague of plastic pollution.
     
    This means phasing out single-use plastics, overhauling waste systems, and boosting recycling.
     
    All countries must quickly finalize an ambitious, legally binding global treaty to end plastic pollution. And we hope that this will happen this year.
     
    Third – the fight against climate change must extend to the seas.
     
    For decades, the ocean has been absorbing carbon emissions and taking the heat of a warming planet.
     
    That comes at great cost.
     
    As we prepare for COP30 in Brazil, countries must present ambitious national climate action plans.
     
    These plans must align with limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius;
     
    Cover all emissions and the whole economy;
     
    And in line with the commitments countries have made to accelerate the global energy transition and seize the benefits of clean power.
     
    Last year, for the first time, the annual global temperature was 1.5°C hotter than pre-industrial times.
     
    Scientists are clear: that does not mean that the long-term global temperature rise limit to 1.5 degrees is out of reach.
     
    It means we need to fight harder.
     
    The ocean depends on it – and so do we.
     
    I urge countries to champion ocean-based climate solutions – like protecting mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs.
     
    We must also increase financial and technological support to developing countries – so that they can protect themselves from extreme weather and respond when disasters strike.
     
    The survival of coastal communities and Small Island Developing States depends on it.
     
    And fourth – we must implement the recent Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction.
     
    The Agreement is a historic step towards protecting vast areas of our ocean.
     
    I congratulate the 134 countries that have signed and the 49 and counting that have ratified the Agreement – including 18 new signatures and 18 ratifications yesterday alone.
     
    The entry into force is within our sight.
     
    And I call on all remaining nations to join swiftly.
     
    We do not have a moment to lose.
     
    Finally, on seabed mining, we have a collective responsibility to proceed with great caution.
     
    I support the ongoing work of the International Seabed Authority on this important issue.
     
    As I said yesterday, the deep sea cannot become the Wild West.
     
    Ladies and gentlemen of the media,
     
    The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated.
     
    Ocean health is inseparable from human health, climate stability, and global prosperity.
     
    But I leave Nice energized and encouraged by the many pledges already made.
     
    Encouraged by island nations and Indigenous Peoples sharing their stories and expertise…
     
    Encouraged by young activists demanding action and accountability…
     
    Scientists developing innovative solutions for all…
     
    Business leaders investing in the blue economy…
     
    This is the global coalition we need.
     
    I urge everyone to step forward with decisive commitments and tangible funding.
     
    The ocean has given us so much.
     
    It is time we returned the favor.
     
    Our health, our climate, and our future depend on it.
     
    Thank you. Je vous remercie.
     
    Question: Secretary General, you warned against a wild west on deep sea mining. Beyond words, what specific actions would you like countries to take to either stop deep sea mining or put in place strong regulations?
     
    Secretary-General: Well, as I mentioned, there is an institution that has a key role to play, and is playing it, and I trust that they will be doing what is necessary to avoid the Wild West that I mentioned. It is the International Seabed Authority, and I think it’s extremely important not to have any kind of initiative that is beyond whatever will be established by the International Seabed Authority.
     
    Question: Mr. Secretary-General, you said we have to save the ocean. Are you happy with this conference? Do you think it will make a difference?
     
    Secretary-General: I think it is making a difference. There is one aspect that is particularly evident. UNCLOS, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, took 12 years to enter into force. We are two years from the BBNJ, and we have already, as of today, 49 ratifications [Editor’s Note: 50 including the EU] with 15 commitments to do it soon, which means that it will, in the next few months, reach the entry into force. That is a record – a little bit more than two years. So, I see a momentum and an enthusiasm that was difficult to find in the past.
     
    And the way this meeting was attended – not only by countries, but by civil society, by the business community, by indigenous communities, representing more than double those that came to the Lisbon conference that I attended two years ago – shows the very strong commitment made by countries in relation to enlarging the protection areas. All these shows a momentum that, to be honest, I had never witnessed in conferences of this type. Am I entirely happy? Of course not. I would like things to move much faster.
     
    And let’s not forget that there is a clear link between biodiversity, climate and marine protection. And in that clear link, we still have some dramatic gaps. And one of the most worrying ones is, of course, the impact of climate change on the oceans – the fact that the rising of sea levels is accelerating; the fact that waters are more and more warmer with acidification. We see the impacts in coastal areas. We see the corals bleaching, and we see that climate change became an extremely dramatic threat to the lives of our oceans. And there, I have to say, we are moving slowly, and I hope the COP in Belém will be able to provide the necessary acceleration.
     
    Question: You said that sustainable fishing was the only option left, but for small states like Sri Lanka that’s struggling with bottom trawling – a regional practice  – and IUU fishing [Illegal, unreported and unregulated], we don’t have the capacity to enforce and control external actors like that. What can the UN do to assist small states to protect its fish stocks and marine ecology?
     
    Secretary-General: I think we must develop forms, first of all, of accountability in relation to illegal fishing and in relation to the way fishing resources of developing countries are being exploited by a certain number of predators. So, there is a question of accountability, and we’ll be doing our best to increase the mechanisms of international accountability that for the moment – let us be clear – are extremely limited and inefficient.
     
    Question: CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are a double problem for the ocean because of acidification, and they are hitting the atmosphere and the ocean. At the same time, there’s a lot of oil industry activity that happens in the ocean, which is a continuing risk. What message and agreements do you expect to hear from the countries in this conference regarding the fossil fuel industry or is this not a subject right now in this conference?
     
    Secretary-General: I believe the energy transition will be more central in the COP meeting than in this meeting. But there are two things that, for me, are absolutely evident. First is that 85 per cent of the emissions correspond to fossil fuels. So the problem of climate change is essentially linked to fossil fuels. The second is that we are witnessing an energy transition that demonstrates that the cheapest way to produce energy is through renewables.
     
    You might have heard what I said about greed. There is a dramatic effort from the fossil fuel industry to distort the reality. But one thing for me is inevitable – the fossil fuel age is coming to an end, and the renewable age will be there as the age of the future. The problem is, will that be done on time? And what we need is to accelerate that transition.  And I hope that in the COP there will be a very strong message in this regard.
     
    Question: I wanted to ask if you have concerns generally about the 1.5 target slipping out from policymakers’ speeches as people come to accept that it’s not likely to be met. Are you concerned that people are moving ahead and starting to talk about 2 degrees? How do you keep up the message around 1.5 when the science looks certain that it will be passed?
     
    Secretary-General: I am concerned. Scientists are very clear when they tell us that the 1.5 degrees is still achievable as a limit to global warming. But they are also unanimous in saying that we are on the brink of a tipping point that might make it impossible. So there is a matter of urgency that is extremely important, and that is the reason of my concern. Until now, we have not seen enough urgency, enough speed in making things move fast, in energy transition and in other aspects that are essential to keep 1.5 degrees alive. A lot of progress is being seen, but not yet enough, and we must accelerate our transition. And this is, for me, the most important objective of the next COP, and of the pressure we are making at the present moment on countries to have Nationally Determined Contributions, the so-called national action plans, that are fully compatible with 1.5 degrees, which foresees until 2035 a dramatic reduction of emissions.
     

    ****

     
    LE SECRÉTAIRE GÉNÉRAL
    REMARQUES À LA PRESSE À LA CONFÉRENCE DES NATIONS UNIES POUR L’OCÉAN

     
     
    Bonjour à tous,
     
    Nous sommes à Nice en mission : sauver l’océan – pour sauver notre avenir.
     
    C’était le message que j’ai porté à l’ouverture de la Conférence hier.
    Et c’est le message que j’ai répété à chacune de mes rencontres ici.
     
    L’océan est le poumon de notre planète.
     
    Il produit la moitié de l’oxygène que nous respirons… nourrit des milliards de personnes… soutient des centaines de millions d’emplois… et fait tourner le commerce mondial.
     
    Mais pour beaucoup, l’océan est bien plus qu’une ressource.
     
    Il façonne des cultures. Il ancre des identités. Il nourrit l’âme humaine.
     
    Et pourtant, nous le traitons comme une ressource inépuisable – comme s’il pouvait absorber nos abus sans conséquences.
     
    Chaque année, les signes de détresse se multiplient.
     
    Les stocks de poissons s’effondrent sous l’effet de la pêche illégale et de la surexploitation.
     
    Le dérèglement climatique provoque l’acidification et le réchauffement des océans – détruisant les récifs de corail, accélérant la montée des eaux, et mettant en péril des communautés entières.
     
    La pollution plastique étouffe la vie marine et contamine notre alimentation – jusqu’à se retrouver dans notre sang… et même dans notre cerveau.
     
    En empoisonnant l’océan, c’est nous-mêmes que nous empoisonnons.
     
    Chers amis,
     
    Nous approchons un point de bascule – au-delà duquel tout retour en arrière pourrait devenir impossible.
     
    Soyons clairs : des intérêts puissants nous poussent dangereusement vers le précipice.
     
    Nous livrons un combat difficile, contre un ennemi bien identifié.
     
    Son nom, c’est la cupidité.
     
    Une cupidité qui sème le doute… nie la science… déforme la vérité… récompense la corruption… et détruit la vie au nom du profit.
     
    Nous ne pouvons pas laisser la cupidité dicter le sort de notre planète.
     
    C’est pourquoi nous sommes ici cette semaine : pour faire front ensemble face à ces forces – et reprendre ce qui appartient à toutes et à tous.
     
    Les gouvernements, les chefs d’entreprise, les pêcheurs, les scientifiques… chacun a une responsabilité, chacun a un rôle vital à jouer.
     
    Tout au long de la Conférence, j’ai mis en avant quatre priorités.
     
    Premièrement – nous devons transformer la manière dont nous récoltons les richesses de l’océan.
     
    La question n’est pas de pêcher ou non — mais de savoir comment nous pêchons.
     
    La pêche durable n’est pas une option – c’est notre seule voie possible.
     
    Cela exige une coopération internationale renforcée, une lutte implacable contre la pêche illégale, et une extension des aires marines protégées pour reconstituer les stocks et préserver la vie marine.
     
    Cela implique aussi de tenir l’objectif 30-30 : protéger et gérer au moins 30 % des zones marines et côtières d’ici 2030.
     
    Nous avons le devoir moral de transmettre aux générations futures des océans pleins de vie.
     
    Deuxièmement – nous devons combattre le fléau de la pollution plastique.
     
    Cela signifie éliminer progressivement les plastiques à usage unique, réformer les systèmes de gestion des déchets, et renforcer le recyclage.
     
    Tous les pays doivent conclure rapidement un traité mondial ambitieux et juridiquement contraignant pour mettre fin à la pollution plastique. Et nous espérons que cela se produira cette année.
     
    Troisièmement – la lutte contre le changement climatique doit aussi se mener en mer.
     
    Depuis des décennies, l’océan absorbe nos émissions de carbone et la chaleur d’une planète en surchauffe.
     
    Cela a un prix.
     
    À l’approche de la COP30 au Brésil, les pays doivent présenter des plans d’action climatique nationaux ambitieux.
     
    Des plans compatibles avec l’objectif de limiter la hausse des températures à 1,5 °C ;
     
    Qui couvrent toutes les émissions et l’ensemble de l’économie ;
     
    Et conformément aux engagements des pays à accélérer la transition énergétique mondiale, en saisissant les opportunités offertes par les énergies propres.
     
    L’an dernier, pour la première fois, la température mondiale annuelle a dépassé de 1,5 °C les niveaux préindustriels.
     
    Les scientifiques sont clairs : cela ne signifie pas que la limite de 1,5 °C est hors de portée.
     
    Cela signifie que nous devons redoubler d’efforts.
     
    L’océan en dépend — et nous aussi.
     
    J’appelle les pays à soutenir les solutions climatiques basées sur l’océan — comme la protection des mangroves, des herbiers marins et des récifs coralliens.
     
    Nous devons aussi accroître le soutien financier et technologique aux pays en développement – pour qu’ils puissent se protéger face aux phénomènes climatiques extrêmes, et répondre rapidement quand les catastrophes frappent.
     
    La survie des communautés côtières et des petits États insulaires en dépend.
     
    Quatrièmement – nous devons mettre en œuvre l’Accord sur la biodiversité marine des zones situées au-delà des juridictions nationales.
     
    L’ Accord est une avancée historique pour protéger d’immenses espaces marins.
     
    Je félicite les 134 pays qui l’ont signé, et les 49 – et c’est pas fini – qui l’ont déjà ratifié, dont 18 signatures et 18 ratifications enregistrées hier seulement.
     
    L’entrée en vigueur est à notre portée.
     
    J’en appelle à tous les autres États pour de les rejoindre sans attendre.
     
    Nous n’avons pas une minute à perdre.
     
    Enfin, sur l’exploitation minière des fonds marins, nous avons une responsabilité collective d’agir avec une extrême prudence.
     
    Je salue les travaux en cours de l’Autorité internationale des fonds marins sur cette question cruciale.
     
    Comme je l’ai dit hier, les grands fonds ne peuvent devenir le Far West des temps modernes.
     
    Mesdames et Messieurs les journalistes,
     
    L’urgence de ce moment ne peut être exagérée.
     
    La santé de l’océan est indissociable de la santé humaine, de la stabilité climatique et de la prospérité mondiale.
     
    Mais je quitte Nice plein d’énergie et d’espoir, porté par les nombreux engagements déjà pris.
     
    Porté par les récits et l’expertise des nations insulaires et des peuples autochtones…
     
    Par la détermination des jeunes militants qui exigent des comptes…
     
    Par les scientifiques qui inventent des solutions pour toutes et tous…
     
    Et par les acteurs économiques qui investissent dans une économie bleue durable.
     
    C’est cette coalition mondiale dont nous avons besoin.
     
    J’en appelle à chacun : engagez-vous avec clarté, avec ambition, et avec des financements concrets.
     
    L’océan nous a tant donné.
     
    Il est temps de lui rendre la pareille.
     
    Notre santé, notre climat et notre avenir en dépendent.
     
    Je vous remercie.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • Five killed, others injured in Austrian school attack

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At least five people have been killed in an attack at a school in the Austrian city of Graz and others were injured, Austrian media including tabloid Kronen Zeitung reported on Tuesday.

    Citing local police, Austrian state media ORF said several people had been seriously injured, including students and teachers.

    Police said an operation was underway in a street called Dreierschuetzengasse, on which there is a secondary school, but declined further comment.

    Police are currently evacuating the building, ORF said.

    It was not immediately clear whether the suspect was among the reported victims.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/HOLY LAND – Ecumenical group “A Jerusalem Voice for Justice”: SOS for Gaza, which is dying amid hunger and forced displacement

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Monday, 9 June 2025

    Photo OCHA

    Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – After more than a year and a half of death and destruction, “the moment we now find ourselves in is terrifying.” The people of Gaza are “the first victims” of a merciless war. Even those who raise their voices to denounce the brutality of the violence suffered by Palestinians in Gaza now are left “feeling hopeless, paralyzed by despair and unable to help. Exhausted!” And yet, one must continue to try to “cast the nets,” as the Apostles did according to the Gospel of John, after spending the whole night without catching anything. This is the exhortation of the members of the ecumenical group “A Jerusalem Voice for Justice,” in a new appeal released on the occasion of the Solemnity of Pentecost. As Christians of the Holy Land, they once again sound the alarm “about the recent unprecedented escalation in the Israeli war on Gaza,” and invite everyone to be filled “with the energy of the resurrection and of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost” to continue “fighting for life and freedom for our brothers and sisters in Gaza and everywhere else in Palestine/Israel.”In its message, the ecumenical group once again denounces that “in the past weeks, the situation has progressively deteriorated: in addition to the close to 55 000 dead and over 120 000 wounded, starvation and famine are being experienced (the UN recently identified 10 000 new cases of malnutrition). Hospitals and other civilian facilities are almost completely shut down.”The distribution of humanitarian aid is also under Israeli control and is managed exclusively by a US supported agency, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). According to a statement released by “A Jerusalem Voice for Justice,” on May 16, GHF Executive Director Jake Woods “declared that he refused to “be part of anything that forcibly dislocates or displaces the Palestinian population.” On May 25, 2025, he resigned after calling for Israel to allow in aid through all possible channels.The current system of aid distribution, marked by difficulties in reaching the distribution points and the continued killings of Gazans making their way to these points raise, according to the ecumenical group, “the likelihood that the GHF is a cover for Israeli military operations.” The United Nations and numerous international NGOs, the document also states, “have recognized that this “distribution of aid” is an escalation of the war. They know full well that to participate in such “distribution” would mean being complicit in using food assistance as part of a war strategy, explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.”The ecumenical reflection group “A Jerusalem Voice for Justice,” which emerged spontaneously in response to the new outbreak of violence and terror in the Holy Land, aims to share and offer insights into the facts and processes that touch and torment the lives of peoples in the land of Jesus. Its members include His Beatitude Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah; His Grace Lutheran Bishop of the Holy Land Munib Younan; His Excellency Greek Orthodox Bishop Attallah Hanna; coordinator of the Sabeel Ecumenical Center Sawsan Bitar; Palestinian theologian John Munayer; Jesuit Father David Neuhaus; and Father Frans Bouwen of the Missionaries of Africa. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 9/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cleaning up Trump’s mess, California surges regional law enforcement response in Los Angeles

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 9, 2025

    What you need to know: California is surging mutual aid resources to support law enforcement as they clean up the actions caused by President Trump.

    LOS ANGELES – Moving quickly to support local response to federal actions that have caused unrest in Los Angeles, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced surging state and regional law enforcement mutual aid to the region. After the President acted illegally to federalize the National Guard, who subsequently became the focus of large scale protests, the state is working with local partners to surge 800+ additional state and local law enforcement officers into Los Angeles to clean up President Trump’s mess.

    “Chaos is exactly what Trump wanted, now we are sending in hundreds more law enforcement to pick up the pieces. State and local leaders stand together, coordinated and resolute to ensure the safety of the Los Angeles region.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    California’s mutual aid system, which is overseen by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, has been in place for decades and provides a framework for neighboring law enforcement agencies to assist one another during times of emergency. To ensure continued coordination among all law enforcement partners, the Governor has activated the State Operations Center to remain vigilant in the days to come. 

    “While Washington choreographed these chaotic events, the LAPD and local law enforcement continue to effectively respond,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “There is a strong local mutual aid agreement here in California and it has already been activated according to policy. To our local law enforcement partners: thank you for having our back just as we have yours.”

    640+ Highway Patrol Officers on the ground

    Through joint unified command between the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD), the Governor is surging five CHP Special Response Teams of nearly 400 additional officers into Los Angeles in support of LAPD. In addition, CHP has activated a regional Tactical Alert, which provides more than 250 CHP officers to assist with roadway and highway safety in Los Angeles.

    “The California Highway Patrol’s top priority is the safety of every community we serve. We are working in full coordination with our local and state public safety partners to ensure a unified, strategic response,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “The CHP is committed to restoring calm and protecting our communities with professionalism and resolve.” 

    A little over 300 of the 2,000 federalized National Guard members are on the ground in Los Angeles, the rest are awaiting orders.

    240+ officers from neighboring jurisdictions providing mutual aid

    The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, in coordination with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), has formally requested mutual aid assistance from law enforcement agencies within and outside of Los Angeles County to support LAPD, and approved the following mobilization:

    • 20 deputies from San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
    • 83 deputies from Orange County Sheriff’s Department
    • 32 deputies from Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department
    • 44 deputies from Ventura County Sheriff’s Department
    • 80 officers from municipal police agencies within Los Angeles County

    To bring further support to the region, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has already provided more than 200 deputies to support the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).

    “This collaboration ensures a unified response and reinforces public safety efforts across the region. The Department remains committed to leveraging all available mutual aid channels to protect our communities and support our regional partners during the ongoing civil unrest,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna.

    “Cal OES is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of all Californians. We are working closely with local leaders to ensure they have the support they need to keep communities safe, uphold rights, and de-escalate tensions,” said Nancy Ward, Cal OES Director. “This collaborative approach ensures appropriate resources respond swiftly and effectively while protecting the public.” 

    Stay peaceful, never resort to violence 

    As the entire region comes together to keep the peace, this is a reminder to Californians that they have a right to speak out, but they must remain peaceful. Those who engage in protests and demonstrations must always emphasize partnership, unity and non-violence. So far, officers have at least 40 arrests due to vandalism, looting and violence.

    “I want to make it crystal clear, you can hurl insults at whoever you want. However, if you hurl cinder blocks, light vehicles on fire, destroy property and assault law enforcement officers, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “Our First Amendment right is precious and we will protect it, but if you cross the line and commit criminal acts, please know this is your warning.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Velázquez and Thompson Seek to Block Immigration Feds from Identifying as Local Police

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

    Washington, DC – As the Trump Administration continues unconstitutional deportations, Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) have introduced the Police not ICE Act of 2025 to prohibit immigration officers from wearing any clothing bearing the word “police.” The bill would apply to entities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). 

    “Due to Trump’s unconstitutional decisions, immigrant communities live in fear of one day being deported and never seeing their family members again,” said Velázquez. “While we resist the threat of raids and mass deportations, it’s equally important to curb actions that fuel distrust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, like ICE agents posing as local police officers.” 

    “This is a matter of public safety,” said Thompson. “Suggesting ICE officers are members of local law enforcement undermines the relationships immigrant communities have established with police departments. Crimes may go unreported because victims fear they or their loved ones could be reported to immigration officials. Witnesses may not come forward for fear of being reported. This weakens public safety and undercuts local law enforcement. I’m glad to work with Rep. Velázquez to introduce legislation to end this practice.”

    By displaying the word “police” on their uniforms, immigration officers blur the line between law enforcement and immigration officials. Critics contend that conflating the two results in immigrants being less likely to cooperate with local law enforcement when there are serious stakes in place. 

    “New York City is a sanctuary city. We do not align with Trump’s mass deportation agenda,” said Velázquez. “Immigrant residents should feel confident that the NYPD is not working with ICE and can safely report crimes without fear. When federal immigration agents pose as local police, it creates confusion and puts public safety at risk.”

    This bill has been co-sponsored by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), Rep. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Rep. Luz Rivas (D-CA), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX).

    Find the full bill text here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Frank Elderson: The rule of law as a constitutional pillar of European central banking

    Source: European Central Bank

    Keynote speech by Frank Elderson, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB and Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board of the ECB, at the Italian constitutional court

    Rome, 9 June 2025

    Introduction

    Thank you very much for inviting me.

    The writings, judgments and speeches of many among this distinguished audience have shaped our understanding of the rule of law. I find it a privilege – and slightly daunting – to address you today on such a fundamental issue.

    Today I am speaking to you as a central banker and banking supervisor. However, before I do so, allow me to take a moment to speak from a more personal perspective. Not as an official, but as the young law student I once was, reflecting on how I first came to understand and appreciate the rule of law.

    As a law student at the University of Amsterdam in the early 1990s, I often cycled past a monument to Henk van Randwijk, a member of the anti-Nazi resistance during the Second World War. The monument is simple. A plain red brick wall, bearing the final lines of Van Randwijk’s most famous poem in simple white lettering:

    “een volk dat voor tirannen zwicht
    zal meer dan lijf en goed verliezen
    dan dooft het licht …    ”

    “a people that bows to tyrants
    will lose more than body and belongings
    then, the light goes out …    ”

    I would sometimes stop, park my bicycle against a tree, and contemplate these words, hearing the echo of the heinous crimes committed on the streets of Amsterdam, and far beyond, during those hellish years when the light had indeed gone out.

    I would think of the US military cemetery in Margraten, in the South of the Netherlands, where my parents used to take me and my sisters as children to see the endless rows of meticulously kept graves, each honouring one of the 10,000 US soldiers buried there, who had given their lives so that the light might shine once again in all its splendour.

    I would continue my way to law school, thinking of one of the most fundamental lessons our professors had taught us: if the horrors of the past are to be avoided, if minorities are to be protected, if the individual is to be free, democracy needs to be accompanied by the rule of law. We studied the small, but fundamental, book, “Democracy and the Rule of Law”, which I keep on a shelf facing my desk to this day. Our professors never tired of explaining how vital the word “and” is in that title: the rule of law is both a precondition for democracy, and an essential limit to majority rule. For tyranny, which Van Randwijk’s poem so poignantly warns against, can be exercised not only by a single ruler, but also by half the population plus one. Put succinctly, democracy protects the majority against the minority, while the rule of law protects the minority, even a minority of one, against the majority. And this, so we were taught, is why we need both.

    Although the importance of the rule of law has been impressed on me since my earliest days, I am not speaking to you today as a historian, a legal scholar, or a young law student. Today I speak to you as a central banker and banking supervisor. Today, I intend to show that the rule of law is of the highest relevance for us as a central bank and supervisor to deliver on our mandate. In addition, I will present the case that we have a specific role to play in upholding the rule of law.

    The rule of law is not merely the bedrock upon which lawyers, judges and legal scholars build their work. In recent years, its pivotal role in fostering economic prosperity has come to the forefront of public debate, underscoring its profound relevance far beyond the boundaries of the legal profession.

    The rule of law is not a binary concept – it is not simply present or absent. Instead, it exists on a continuum, shaped by various factors such as constraints on government powers, independent courts, the absence of corruption, and respect for human rights. Its strength is also wide-ranging, varying significantly across jurisdictions, and it evolves over time. For many decades, the global rule of law experienced a steady and encouraging ascent. However, some recent indicators suggest that this progress may have reached its peak, while others point to signs of retreat.[1]

    Today I will discuss how the rule of law supports central banks in delivering on their price stability mandate, and banking supervisors in fostering financial stability.

    It is worth emphasising that the connection between the rule of law and a thriving economy is well-established: a strong rule of law correlates consistently with robust and sustained economic growth.[2]

    Last year, economists Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for their groundbreaking research, which persuasively demonstrated not just such a correlation, but a causal relationship between weak institutions – closely linked with a poor rule of law – and lower economic growth.[3] Their findings highlight an important insight: economies thrive when institutions are strong, as institutional strength enables investors, entrepreneurs and consumers to make long-term decisions with confidence, knowing that contracts will be enforced, corruption fought and property rights upheld. Institutional reliability thus forms the backbone of innovation, creativity and sustained growth.

    However, this relationship is not one-directional. Strong economic growth, in turn, reinforces institutional resilience, creating a virtuous cycle in which institutional strength and economic prosperity feed into one another.[4]

    Central banks are a crucial part of this mutual dependence. They are significantly more effective in delivering on their mandates when the rule of law is strong. At the same time, strong central banks and strong supervisors are essential institutions in supporting a strong economy. As such, within their mandates, central banks and prudential supervisors have a vital role to play in upholding, promoting and, when necessary, determinedly defending the rule of law.

    Why does the rule of law matter for the European Central Bank?

    The Treaty on European Union proudly declares that the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The rule of law forms the backbone of some of the most tangible and far-reaching achievements of our European Union – ranging from the single market and the protection of human rights to the mutual recognition of judgments. Few aspects of European integration reflect its unity more clearly than the shared commitment to upholding the rule of law.

    For the ECB, the rule of law is a critical foundation of its mandate in multiple important ways. Today, I will focus on three closely connected areas: first, the role of the rule of law in laying the very foundations for, and safeguarding trust in, money; second, the importance of the rule of law for delivering on our mandates; and third, the role of the rule of law supporting price and financial and price stability by ensuring the independence of the central bank.

    Money

    Let me start with trust in money. Aristotle declared long ago that money was introduced by convention as a kind of substitute for a need or demand, and its value is derived not from nature but from law.[5] While money has classically been thought of as serving the functions of medium of exchange, store of value, unit of account and means of payment, it is the law which determines whether a thing is money and what nominal value is attributed to it. It is the law which determines which things are legal tender.[6]

    Modern money is “fiat money” meaning that it has no intrinsic value. Following the end of the gold standard with the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in 1971, its value is also no longer tied to physical assets like gold. Instead, the value of our money rests entirely on trust – trust in public authorities, trust in the institutional frameworks that uphold it, and, fundamentally, trust in the central bank as the issuing authority.

    Consider the euro banknotes in your pockets. The paper itself holds no intrinsic value. The worth we collectively assign to those €10, €20 or €50 banknotes is rooted in a strong legal foundation. Law gives central bank money legal tender status, meaning that it must be accepted for settling a debt. Trust in all other forms of “money”, such as commercial bank deposits, ultimately rests on convertibility at par with central bank money. The law thus helps preserve the value of today’s banknotes as well as the savings in your bank account.[7]

    We are currently taking a pivotal step in adapting central bank money to the digital age, by progressing towards the possible issuance of a digital equivalent: a digital euro. As cash today, which will remain available, a digital euro builds on the treaty-based competence to issue legal forms of public money, leveraging advanced technology within a robust legal framework to ensure people trust the numbers on their screens. The rule of law underpins these frameworks, transforming algorithms into a reliable and trustworthy form of public money.

    Delivering on our mandates

    Let me now turn to the function of the rule of law in enabling central banks to effectively deliver on their mandates.

    For central banks to effectively fulfil their mandate of price stability, they must carefully assess the economic outlook. This assessment requires leveraging models and historical patterns to forecast economic developments. However, for us to be able to predict and forecast economic developments, the economy must operate within a framework of consistent and transparent rules. The rule of law plays a vital role in this regard. By fostering predictability and stability, it provides the essential foundation for robust economic analysis and informed monetary policy decision-making.

    The effectiveness of the ECB’s banking supervision mandate to promote the safety and soundness of banks also hinges on a strong legal system with enforceable supervisory decisions. The laws give the supervisor a broad toolkit to ensure that banks remain safe and sound. For instance, this toolkit includes the power to require banks to hold more capital as part of the bank-specific annual Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process, and the power to sanction banks if they do not adhere to prudential rules.

    Beyond these broader principles, a sound legal system is indispensable for central banking operations in practical terms. For instance, the legal requirement for adequate collateral is a cornerstone of both monetary policy implementation and financial stability. Yet collateral can only be deemed adequate if the legal framework guarantees that central banks can enforce their rights over it when necessary.

    Another example is the central bank’s reliance on accurate statistics to carry out its mandate effectively. To ensure that reporting agents fulfil their obligations, central banks require enforceable sanctioning powers.

    All these examples show that the rule of law is a precondition of central banking and prudential supervision.

    Central bank independence

    The effectiveness of a central bank in achieving its price stability mandate rests on its independence. Like the judiciary and other independent agencies, independent central banks are part of a constitutional model that recognises the role of independent institutions as checks and balances on executive and legislative power. Most legal systems in advanced economies ensure that the power to create money should be entrusted to bodies operating outside the electoral cycle to mitigate a time-inconsistency problem: the tendency of policymakers to prioritise short-term gains over long-term stability.[8] Independence insulates the central bank from the short-term pressures of daily politics, enabling it to focus on its mandate.

    Hence central bank independence, price stability and the rule of law are closely intertwined. Empirical evidence suggests that price stability depends on both the strength of the rule of law and the independence of the central bank. Social trust in the central bank depends on the overall level of trust in the legal system as a whole. If a perfectly independent central bank were to operate in a system with systematic deficiencies in the rule of law, it would not be able to deliver effectively on its mandate.[9] In short, an independent central bank can only function if its decisions are seen as credible, and, crucially, credibility depends on the overall system based on the rule of law functioning well.

    Moreover, the distinct character of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) also illustrates the crucial importance of the rule of law for the ECB. As the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled, the ESCB is based on a highly integrated system that brings together national central banks and the ECB.[10] National central banks are not merely national institutions – they are also integral components of the ESCB. Importantly, the governors of the national central banks of the euro area are also members of the ECB’s Governing Council, which is responsible for taking monetary policy decisions.

    A similar principle applies to the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). For instance, the Joint Supervisory Teams that inspect banks are composed of staff from both the ECB and national competent authorities (NCAs). Likewise, the ECB Supervisory Board includes representatives from both the ECB and NCAs.

    Because of the integrated nature of both the ESCB and the SSM, which both bring together national authorities and the ECB, rule of law deficiencies at the national level can affect the functioning of the ESCB, the SSM and the ECB. Respect for the rules governing the organisation and safeguarding the independence of these national components of the ESCB and the SSM are thus essential to achieving their mandates of price and financial stability.

    What central banks can do to support the rule of law

    Now that we have explored how the rule of law is a precondition for central banks and supervisors being able to deliver on their mandates, let us turn to the other side of the coin: the role of the European Central Bank in upholding and protecting the rule of law.

    Clearly, central banks cannot oversee the general conditions of the rule of law – that is not their mandate. But central banks do have specific responsibilities in this context.

    First, central banks must themselves adhere to rule of law principles under the scrutiny of courts. And second, central banks have instruments at their disposal that can be used to reinforce the legal fabric that supports the rule of law.

    Let me start with the former: central banks are fully embedded in the rule of law architecture. For instance, the Treaties explicitly place the ECB under the jurisdiction of the CJEU, and the ECB’s actions – in all areas, including monetary policy, banking supervision and transparency – have been subject to judicial scrutiny.[11] Compared with other major central banks, the ECB is among those most frequently brought before court.[12] By contrast, most other central banks are practically exempt from the jurisdiction of the courts when conducting monetary policy.[13] The preliminary reference procedure has also brought ECB monetary policy measures before the CJEU.[14] In essence, even when discretion is granted to the ECB by the courts or the legislature, it is discretion within the bounds of the law – not beyond it – and both its scope and conditions remain subject to judicial review.

    This duty of the ECB has both a negative and a positive dimension. Not only is the ECB responsible for remaining within the confines of the law, it also has to react when other institutions with which it cooperates threaten to violate the law.[15]

    Legal scrutiny by the courts is not the only form the legally required ECB’s accountability takes, however. In fact, a key pillar of our transparency and accountability to citizens includes explaining our decisions to the public and reporting regularly to elected bodies. For example, the ECB publishes detailed accounts of the monetary policy meetings of the Governing Council, explains its policies in dedicated press conferences and answers questions from Members of the European Parliament. (MEPs). Moreover, the President of the ECB and the Chair of the Supervisory Board appear regularly in front of the European Parliament to exchange views with MEPs. This not only makes monetary policy and banking supervision more understandable, but also proactively submits our institution to public scrutiny. Public scrutiny is an indispensable element of the rule of law: the law must be seen to be upheld for its acceptance by the general public.

    Let me now turn to the ECB’s role in maintaining the rule of law. And I would like to be crystal clear again: in the EU, maintaining the rule of law is mainly a task for the courts and the political institutions. But the ECB also has responsibilities in this area, and I will outline five that I think are particularly important.

    First, the Treaties give the ECB special powers to monitor respect for central bank independence, in particular personal independence. The Statute of the ESCB, which is a Protocol of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU (TFEU), exceptionally empowers the Governing Council of the ECB and national governors to bring to the European Court of Justice an action for annulment of a national measure that does not respect the independence of central bank governors.[16] This is the only case where the EU legal order provides for an annulment by the European Court of Justice of a national measure. I am sure that the jurists in today’s audience will immediately recognizes how exceptional this is. By allowing a direct change of the legal reality within the national legal order by means of an EU remedy, the Statute of the ESCB ensures, very effectively, that the rule of law is upheld.

    Second, the ECB Governing Council has the role of acting as guardian of the Treaties vis-à-vis the national central banks in the same way as the Commission is guardian of the Treaties vis-à-vis the Member States.[17] While the ECB has never instituted infringement proceedings against a national central bank before the CJEU, the very existence of this power enables the ECB to ensure compliance by national central banks with the requirements of central bank independence and the prohibition of monetary financing of the public sector. Another as yet unused power of the ECB under the Statute of the ESCB/ECB is the power of the ECB Governing Council, by a two thirds majority vote, to prohibit national central banks from performing functions other than those specified in the Statute where these interfere with the objectives and tasks of the ESCB.[

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel’s interception of Madleen and detention of crew bound for Gaza flouts international law

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Responding to the news that Israel has intercepted and detained the 12-person crew aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s Madleen boat, including activist Greta Thunberg, who has been designated by Amnesty International as an Ambassador of Conscience, which had attempted to break Israel’s illegal blockade on the occupied Gaza Strip and get in desperately needed humanitarian supplies, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said:

    “By forcibly intercepting and blocking the Madleen which was carrying humanitarian aid and a crew of solidarity activists, Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice.

    “The operation carried out in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and put the safety of those on the boat at risk. The crew were unarmed activists and human rights defenders on a humanitarian mission, they must be released immediately and unconditionally. They must also be protected from torture and other ill-treatment pending their release.

    During its voyage over the past few days the Madleen’s mission emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians amid persistent international inaction

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General

    “As the occupying power Israel has an international obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient and safe access to food, medicine, and other supplies indispensable to their survival. Instead, and as part of its calculated effort to inflict on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life designed to bring about their physical destruction, it has consistently and deliberately impeded the provision of impartial humanitarian assistance for civilians in desperate need. Its military attacks have also damaged or destroyed vital infrastructure, including sources of food production like agricultural lands, compounding the impact of its starvation policy.

    “During its voyage over the past few days the Madleen’s mission emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians amid persistent international inaction. However, this very mission is also an indictment of the international community’s failure to put an end to Israel’s inhumane blockade. Activists would not have needed to risk their lives had Israel’s allies translated their rhetoric into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza.

    “Israel’s interception of the Madleen despite global calls for it to be granted safe passage underscores the longstanding impunity Israel enjoys which has emboldened it to continue to commit genocide in Gaza and to maintain a suffocating, illegal blockade on Gaza for 18 years.  

    “Until we see real concrete steps by states worldwide signalling an end to their blanket support for Israel, it will have carte blanche to continue inflicting relentless death and suffering on Palestinians.

    “States must act now or risk complicity in Israel’s grave violations of Palestinians’ rights. They must publicly denounce Israel’s interception and detention of the Madleen’s crew and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those on board. Now is the time to take a clear stand – through actions not just words. They must make clear that they will no longer tolerate Israel blocking humanitarian aid to a population facing starvation and genocide. They must press Israel to lift its suffocating blockade and allow aid to be delivered through all crossings into Gaza now.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Israel’s interception of Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s Madleen boat condemned as ‘chilling contempt’ of international law

    Source: Amnesty International –

    The mission is an indictment of the international community’s failure to put an end to Israel’s inhumane blockade

    As the occupying power, Israel has an international obligation to ensure safe access to food, medicine, and essential supplies for Gaza’s civilians

    ‘Activists would not have had to risk their lives if Israel’s allies had turned their words into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza’ – Agnès Callamard

    Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, responded to the news that Israel has intercepted and detained the 12-person crew aboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla’s Madleen boat – including activist Greta Thunberg, an Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience – who were attempting to break Israel’s illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid, stating:

    “Israel has once again flouted its legal obligations towards civilians in the occupied Gaza Strip and demonstrated its chilling contempt for legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice.

    “The operation of intercepting and blocking the Madleen in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and put the safety of those on the boat at risk. The crew were unarmed activists and human rights defenders on a humanitarian mission, they must be released immediately and unconditionally. They must also be protected from torture and other ill-treatment pending their release.

    “As the occupying power Israel has an international obligation to ensure civilians in Gaza have sufficient and safe access to food, medicine, and other supplies indispensable to their survival. Instead, it has consistently and deliberately impeded the provision of impartial humanitarian assistance for civilians in desperate need. Its military attacks have also damaged or destroyed vital infrastructure, including sources of food production like agricultural lands, compounding the impact of its starvation policy.

    “During its voyage over the past few days the Madleen’s mission emerged as a powerful symbol of solidarity with besieged, starved and suffering Palestinians amid persistent international inaction. However, this mission is also an indictment of the international community’s failure to put an end to Israel’s inhumane blockade. Activists would not have had to risk their lives if Israel’s allies had turned their words into forceful action to allow aid into Gaza.

    “Until we see real, concrete steps taken by governments worldwide – signalling an end to their blanket support for Israel – it will have carte blanche to continue inflicting relentless death and suffering on Palestinians.

    “Now is the time to take a clear stand – not just with words, but with action.

    “Governments must act now or risk their continued complicity in Israel’s grave violations of Palestinians’ rights. They must publicly denounce Israel’s interception and detention of the Madleen’s crew and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those on board. They must make clear that they will no longer tolerate Israel blocking humanitarian aid to a population facing starvation and genocide. They must press Israel to lift its suffocating blockade and allow aid to be delivered through all crossings into Gaza now.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023/24

    Source: Scottish Government

    An Accredited Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

    Scotland’s Chief Statistician today released the main findings of the 2023/24 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS).

    The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey shows that most adults in Scotland (80.1%) were not victims of any SCJS crime in 2023/24, including fraud and computer misuse for the first time.

    One-in-five (19.9%) were estimated to have experienced at least one crime, this included property crime (10.3% of adults), violent crime (2.9%) and fraud and computer misuse (9.5%).

    The latest findings shows that the overall level of property and violent crime combined and the likelihood of being a victim of these crimes has increased since 2021/22. However, no change is detected with the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20, and both measures are down since 2008/09.

    The latest findings also show that people feel safer in their local communities though there has been a fall in confidence in the police across a range of measures.

    The extent and prevalence of crime in Scotland in 2023/24

    The proportion of adults who experienced at least one property or violent crime increased from 10.0% in 2021/22 to 12.1% in 2023/24. The latest figure remains lower than 2008/09 (20.4%) and is not statistically different from the pre-Covid position in 2019/20 (11.9%).

    There were an estimated 1,185,000 crimes in 2023/24, of which 524,000 (44%) were fraud and computer misuse crimes, 429,000 (36%) were property crime and 231,000 (20%) were violent crimes.

    The estimated volume of violent and property crimes individually have both fallen over the longer term, down 27% and 41% respectively since 2008/09. Estimated violent crime increased by 73% since 2021/22 but remains at a similar level to the pre-pandemic position in 2019/20, while property crime has remained at a similar level to both 2019/20 and 2021/22.

    Consistent with previous years, the majority of violent incidents were cases of minor assault resulting in no or negligible injury (61%), with instances of serious assault (8%) and robbery (5%) remaining relatively uncommon.

    Victims of two or more incidents (5.8% of adults) accounted for over half (55%) of all crime in 2023/24.

    This report includes the first findings on the nature of and extent of fraud and computer misuse experienced in Scotland. These results show that, in 2023/24, around one-in-ten adults (9.5%) were the victim of a fraud or computer misuse crime, with around half of these crimes being bank and credit card fraud (47%). The survey also shows that most people who lost money through fraud were ultimately reimbursed.

    Crime continues to be experienced disproportionately among some groups in the population. The likelihood of experiencing any SCJS crime, including fraud and computer misuse, in 2023/24 was higher among those aged 16 to 24, for adults who are disabled and those living in urban areas of Scotland. Many population groups have seen the likelihood of experiencing any property or violent crime decrease since 2008/09.

    In 2023/24, the latest comparable survey period, overall crime victimisation rates in Scotland (including fraud and computer misuse) were higher to those in England and Wales (19.9% and 16.1%). When looking at property and violent crimes alone, the rate in Scotland was also higher than in England and Wales (12.1% compared to 10.1%). This is a change to the position in 2021/22, when both areas had a similar victimisation rate and 2019/20, when Scotland had a lower rate (11.9% compared to 13.3%).

    Public perceptions of the police, the justice system and crime in Scotland

    Fewer than half of adults (45%) said the police in their local area do an excellent or good job. This is a decrease from 61% in 2012/13 and from 49% in 2021/22. Males and those living in urban areas were less likely to feel positively about the police than comparator groups.

    The survey also looks at attitudes towards more specific elements of policing (including policing effectiveness, community engagement and fairness). Most adults expressed confidence in the local police force’s capability across various aspects of police ‘effectiveness,’ including their ability to deal with incidents as they occur and solve crimes. An exception was in preventing crime where 42% of adults were confident in the police. These measures of confidence in police effectiveness have decreased from a high in 2014/15, with some returning to 2008/09 levels.

    Over two thirds (71%) of respondents thought that the local crime rate had stayed the same or reduced in the two years prior to interview, down from 76% in 2021/22 and at a similar level to 2008/09. In 2023/24, the majority of adults in Scotland said they felt very or fairly safe walking alone in their local area after dark (75%) and when in their home alone at night (95%).

    Generally the public were fairly confident about the operation of the justice system in Scotland. For example, around three-quarters of adults (73%) were confident that the justice system allows all those accused of crimes to get a fair trial regardless of who they are. However, adults were less confident on other related measures, for example, 35% were confident that it deals with cases promptly and efficiently, with 52% saying they were not confident.

     Background

    The figures released today were produced in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

    The full statistical publication is available on the Scottish Government website.

    This report covers 4,970 face to face interviews were conducted between July 2023 and April 2024. Participants were adults (aged 16 and over) living in private households in Scotland. There was a 46.0% response rate which is comparable to that of 2021/22 (47.3%) which itself saw a large fall following the COVID-19 pandemic

    The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey is one of the Scottish Government’s flagship national surveys. The survey allows the people of Scotland to independently report their experiences and perceptions of crime, and thus influence the continued development and improvement of the Scottish justice system. The SCJS also provides a range of additional information, including details on the characteristics of victims and offenders of crime. It also captures adults’ perceptions of policing and the justice system.

    The publication presents statistics on the extent of crime in Scotland, importantly including crime that is not reported to the police. However, it is limited to crimes against adults resident in households, and also does not cover all crime types. Experiences of sexual offences are not included in the main estimates and are instead collected in the self-completion section. Police recorded crime is a measure of those crimes reported to the police and recorded by them as a crime or offence.

    More information about the survey, including the online data tables for 2023/24 results are available on the Scottish Government website.

    Further breakdowns for some smaller population groups are also being published on perception of crime in the local area from the Scottish Survey Core Questions, which combines data from the three large Scottish Government household surveys. These breakdowns are available on the Scottish Survey Core Questions webpage.

    As with all surveys, SCJS results are estimates, not precise figures. Results are only described as ‘increases’ or ‘decreases’ where statistical tests identify statistically significant differences. Where they do not detect significant change, results are reported as showing ‘no change’ – even if the estimate from one year appears greater or smaller than the comparator year. Importantly, this does not mean there has definitely been no change, but that the sample is not large enough to confidently detect any change that has or has not occurred. These issues are common to all population surveys, particularly on issues that affect only a minority of people. Often, where changes and trends emerge, they can be more easily detected over longer time periods, as cumulative changes build year-on-year.

    Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff. Further information on Crime and Justice statistics within Scotland or the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be found on the Scottish Government website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Property and violent crime 37% lower than in 2008

    Source: Scottish Government

    Flagship survey shows people feel safer in their communities.

    Total levels of property and violent crime have fallen by more than a third since 2008-09, according to the latest Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS). 

    The 2023-24 official statistics also show that people feel safer in their communities. 

    The survey of almost 5,000 people across Scotland estimates that since 2008-09: 

    • the volume of property and violent crime, including incidents not reported to police, is 37% lower 
    • violent crime is down 27% 
    • property crime is down 41% 
    • the proportion of people who feel safe walking alone in their local area after dark has increased to three-quarters (75%) from two-thirds (66%) 

    Those who took part in the survey were asked about their experiences of violent crime and property crime and, for the first time, their experience of fraud and computer misuse. The volume of property and violent crime combined has increased since 2021-22 but remains at similar levels to the pre-pandemic position in 2019-20 and below that in 2008-09. 

    The survey also asked people about their perceptions of crime, policing and the justice system. Most adults expressed confidence in their local police’s ability to deal with incidents as they occur and to solve crimes. 

    Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: 

    “This flagship national survey indicates that property crime and violent crime is more than a third (37%) lower than 2008-09 and that people feel safer in their local communities. These statistics are consistent with other official figures which show that police recorded crime is at one of the lowest levels since 1974. We are making record investments in policing and across the justice system to build on this progress.  

    “Crime continues to be down significantly over the long term, though the survey does highlight areas of concern and the need for continued action from governments and justice partners. While the levels of crime experienced remain similar to the pre-pandemic position in 2019-20, I am keen to understand what has contributed to the rises in crime identified since the 2021-22 survey. 

    “I am also concerned about levels of fraud and computer misuse, including bank and credit card fraud, which can cause significant harm to individuals and businesses.  A range of action will continue to enhance Police Scotland’s response to fraud, to raise awareness among the public of the potential risks and to help protect individuals and organisations from cyber criminals.

    “Overall, and importantly, this survey shows most people do not experience any crime and only a very small proportion are affected by violent crime, but I have been consistently clear that any incidence of violence is one too many. That is why we are taking forward a wide range of actions to prevent, reduce and tackle violence, funded with more than £6 million invested over the past three years on top of our record funding for police.  

    “This week, I will also chair, with the First Minister, a cross-party summit with MSPs, youth workers and partners to consider what more can be done to address and prevent violence among young people.” 

    Background 

    Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2023-24

    The full statistical publication is available on the Scottish Government website.

    The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey is a flagship national survey funded by the Scottish Government. The survey allows the people of Scotland to independently report their experiences and perceptions of crime and influence the continued development and improvement of Scotland’s system of community safety, policing and justice system.  

    Some of the 2021-22 SCJS covered reference periods when Covid restrictions were in place. Analysis from the Scottish Victimisation Telephone Survey suggested crime fell significantly during the first UK national lockdown, which started in March 2020.  Scottish Victimisation Telephone Survey 2020: main findings

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 5 Men Plead Guilty for Role in Global Digital Asset Investment Scam Conspiracy Resulting in Theft of More than $36.9 Million from Victims

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – Five men have pleaded guilty for their roles in laundering more than $36.9 million from victims of an international digital asset investment scam conspiracy that was carried out from scam centers in Cambodia, the Justice Department announced today.

    The following defendants were part of an international criminal network that induced U.S. victims, believing they were investing in digital assets, to transfer funds to accounts controlled by co-conspirators and that laundered victim money through U.S. shell companies, international bank accounts, and digital asset wallets:

    • Joseph Wong, 33, of Alhambra;
    • Yicheng Zhang, 39, of China;
    • Jose Somarriba, 55, of Los Angeles;
    • Shengsheng He, 39, of La Puente; and
    • Jingliang Su, 44, of China and Turkey.

    As part of the conspiracy, co-conspirators residing overseas contacted U.S. victims directly through unsolicited social media interactions, telephone calls, text messages, and online dating services and gain the victims’ trust.

    The co-conspirators then promoted fraudulent digital asset investments to the victims. Scammers would tell victims that their investments were appreciating in value when, in fact, those funds were stolen and not invested at all.

    Instead, more than $36.9 million in victim funds were transferred from U.S. bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators to a single account at Deltec Bank in the Bahamas, opened in the name of Axis Digital Limited.

    Somarriba, He, and Su directed Deltec Bank to convert victim funds to the stablecoin Tether (USDT) and to transfer the converted funds to a digital asset wallet controlled by individuals in Cambodia. From there, co-conspirators in Cambodia transferred the USDT to the leaders of scam centers throughout the region including in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

    Somarriba and He founded Axis Digital and opened the Deltec Bank account. Su joined Axis Digital as a director and participated in the digital asset conversions and transfers of victim funds.

    Wong managed a network of money launderers in Los Angeles who registered shell companies, opened U.S. bank accounts, and wired victim funds to international bank accounts. Zhang opened and operated two U.S. bank accounts used to launder victim proceeds.

    Zhang and Wong pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Zhang has been in custody since May 2024. He, Somarriba, and Su pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money services business. He, Somarriba, and Su each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Su has been in custody since November 2024 and has a sentencing hearing scheduled for November 17.

    Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty so far, including Daren Li, a national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis and former resident of Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates who has been in U.S. custody since April 2024, and Lu Zhang, a Chinese national illegally in the United States who managed a network of U.S.-based money launderers, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering on Nov. 12, 2024 and May 13, 2024, respectively.

    The United States Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center is investigating the case. The Homeland Security Investigations’ El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Dominican National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service provided valuable assistance.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Maxwell Coll and Alexander Gorin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, Assistant United States Attorney Nisha Chandran of the Major Frauds Section, and Trial Attorneys Stefanie Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting these cases.

    If you or someone you know is a victim of a digital asset investment fraud, report it to IC3.gov. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Portland Man Faces Federal Charges for Distributing Fentanyl and Possessing a Firearm Following Fatal Overdose Investigation

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man has been charged with distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm following a fatal overdose investigation by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.

    Daryl Antonio Edward Turner, 43, has been charged by criminal complaint with distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

    According to court documents, on June 2, 2025, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a suspected fatal overdose near Wood Village, Oregon. Deputies seized a substance suspected to be fentanyl from the scene and quickly developed leads of the alleged fentanyl supply source, later identified as Turner.  

    On June 5, 2025, investigators contacted Turner in Portland and seized a firearm, counterfeit pills suspected to contain fentanyl, and $922 in cash. When questioned by investigators, Turner admitted that he possessed fentanyl for further distribution, acknowledged the dangers of fentanyl, and was aware the substance could kill people.

    Turner made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

    This case was investigated by the FBI and the Multnomah County Dangerous Drug Team (DDT). It is being prosecuted by AUSA Scott Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    The Multnomah County DDT is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program (HIDTA) and is composed of members from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Multnomah County Parole and Probation, Gresham Police Department, the FBI, and U.S. Marshal’s Service (USMS).

    The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.

    A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

    Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

    If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

    If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

    MIL Security OSI –