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Category: Legal Issues

  • MIL-OSI USA: Foreign National Sentenced for Conspiring to Export U.S.-Made Drill Rigs to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions Laws

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Foreign National Sentenced for Conspiring to Export U.S.-Made Drill Rigs to Iran in Violation of U.S. Sanctions Laws

    Brian Assi, also known as Brahim Assi, 63, of Beirut, Lebanon, was sentenced to 44 months in prison for conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR), attempted unlawful export of goods from the United States to Iran without a license, attempted smuggling goods from the United States, submitting false or misleading export information, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Petersburg Felon Sentenced To Over 17 Years For Possessing Ammunition

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

    Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Wayne Lamar Davis (55, St. Petersburg) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Davis was found guilty following a bench trial in March 2025.

    According to statements made in court, Davis committed a traffic infraction while driving two young children to school on the morning of March 8, 2024. When the St. Petersburg Police Department officer who conducted a traffic stop attempted to detain Davis, Davis violently resisted, slipped out of his shirt and shorts, and fled on foot in his underwear. The officer apprehended Davis after a brief foot chase, locating a loaded firearm in a bag that Davis had retrieved from his vehicle. Davis received an enhanced sentence pursuant to the Armed Career Criminal Act based on prior state convictions for robbery, aggravated assault, and resisting an officer with violence and a prior federal conviction for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.   

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the St. Petersburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Martin Man Sentenced to Nearly Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

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

    RAPID CITY – United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Martin, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2025.

    Aloysius Mousseau, 23, was sentenced to four years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

    Mousseau was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025.

    In November 2024, officers with the Rapid City Police Department found Mousseau with a pistol.  Mousseau gave a false name and age to law enforcement. Mousseau had been convicted for crimes punishable beyond a year in prison. Possessing any firearm after such conviction is a felony offense.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.

    Mousseau was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fentanyl Distributor Pleads Guilty

    Source: US FBI

    HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Houston resident has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

    Velasquez-Nikki Saadia Porter admitted to conspiring to distribute nearly 200 grams of fentanyl from a motel room in the North Harris County area.

    The investigation began in 2023 after authorities identified Porter as part of an operation targeting fentanyl distribution and overdoses in the Houston area. 

    Porter operated a narcotics distribution point out of a local motel room where he served fentanyl to customers.

    U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge will impose sentencing Oct. 2. At that time, Porter faces up to 40 years in prison and a maximum $5 million fine. 

    Porter has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

    The FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Montgomery County Narcotics Enforcement Team. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Tallichet prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

    July 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Congo and critical minerals: What are the costs of America’s peace?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Evelyn Namakula Mayanja, Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University

    In March 2025, President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offered the country’s critical mineral reserves to the United States and Europe in exchange for security and stability.

    At the time, the March 23 (M23) militia insurgency was unleashing violence: killing civilians, committing sexual violence, displacing communities and looting mineral resources. Since 1996, eastern Congo has been engulfed in wars and armed conflicts driven by regional powers and more than 120 armed groups.

    The U.S.-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC raises critical questions: Is this a genuine path to sustainable peace, or a continuation of U.S. President Donald Trump’s strategy to secure access to critical minerals through coercive diplomacy?



    Read more:
    4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up

    Global arms race for critical minerals

    The global shift toward renewable energy, digital infrastructure and military modernization has sparked a geopolitical scramble for critical and rare earth minerals.

    In early 2025, Trump signed a series of executive orders that introduced aggressive and imperial-style tactics to secure access to mineral wealth. He threatened Canada with annexation and tariffs, demanded access to Greenland’s resources and linked U.S. support for Ukraine to access to its mineral reserves.

    The DRC’s offer must be viewed through this lens of global resource competition.

    Congo’s critical mineral wealth

    The DRC holds some of the world’s richest deposits of critical minerals and metals. A 2012 article estimated the value of Congo’s untapped mineral wealth at US$24 trillion, a figure nearing the U.S. first-quarter 2025 GDP of $29.962 trillion.

    The DRC produces 70 per cent of the world’s cobalt, ranks fourth in copper, sixth in industrial diamonds and also possesses vast reserves of nickel and lithium, including the Manono deposit expected to yield 95,170 tonnes of crude lithium.

    But the struggle to control these resources has fuelled a cycle of armed violence, displacement and exploitation. Despite several peace agreements, peace and stability remain elusive.

    America’s interests in Congo

    U.S. involvement in Congo stretches back to the Cold War, when it played a role in the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first elected prime minister who sought economic sovereignty.

    In 1996, the U.S. was accused of backing Rwanda and Uganda in the initial invasion of eastern Congo. A U.S. diplomat, “Mr. Hankins,” was quoted in Goma saying: “I am here …to represent American interests.”

    In 2024, President Joe Biden met Tshisekedi to advance the Lobito Corridor, a strategic trade route to counter China’s dominance in the region. Chinese companies currently control around 80 per cent of Congo’s copper market.

    When Trump signed the 2025 peace agreement, he openly stated the U.S. would gain “a lot of mineral rights … foreign trade and investment from the regional critical mineral supply chains.”

    U.S.-brokered peace deal

    The deal, however, prioritizes America’s access to minerals over the well-being of Congolese citizens. Historically, Congo’s mineral wealth has enriched elites and foreign powers while leaving its people impoverished and vulnerable. The new agreement could entrench existing inequalities and inflame tensions further.

    The U.S. has also cut off aid for war survivors, including emergency medical kits and antiretrovirals for rape victims, undermining humanitarian efforts.

    Crucially, the agreement overlooks:

    • The root causes and drivers of conflict at national, regional and international levels.

    • The role of Rwanda and Uganda, whose militaries and intelligence services have long been implicated in supporting groups like M23. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has referred to M23 as “our brothers” and threatened military action in Congo.

    • The voices of Congolese civil society, war survivors and the public, who were excluded from the negotiation process.

    • State fragility and institutional collapse — major enablers of protracted violence.

    • The grievances of Hutu and Tutsi communities in the DRC, deeply rooted in colonial and regional politics.

    • The presence of more than 120 armed groups, many of them proxies for foreign powers engaging in what some scholars call “geocriminality.”

    Between January and February 2025 alone, more than 7,000 people were killed in the DRC. The United Nations and several human rights organizations have documented mass atrocities, including crimes of genocidal magnitude.

    A path toward real peace

    The peace agreement fails to demand justice for crimes committed against the Congolese people. Nobel Peace laureate Denis Mukwege condemned the deal for “rewarding aggression, legitimizing the plundering of Congo’s natural resources, and sacrificing justice for a fragile peace.”

    It also ignores the roles of international mining corporations and external entities that have long profited from Congo’s instability.

    True and lasting peace in the DRC cannot be imposed from the outside. U.S.-led mineral extraction without justice risks deepening the crisis. Since 1999, UN peacekeepers have been deployed in the Congo , yet violence continues.

    Sustainable peace will require:

    • An end to impunity;

    • Thorough investigations into war crimes;

    • Regional truth-telling processes;

    • Justice and reparations for victims;

    • And most importantly, inclusion of Congolese voices in shaping their future.

    Without these commitments, the U.S. risks replicating a long history of exploitation, trading in minerals while ignoring the human cost.

    Evelyn Namakula Mayanja receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and from Carleton University

    – ref. Congo and critical minerals: What are the costs of America’s peace? – https://theconversation.com/congo-and-critical-minerals-what-are-the-costs-of-americas-peace-260567

    MIL OSI –

    July 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Alert issued over fake website

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Transport & Logistics Bureau (TLB) today alerted the public to a fraudulent web address purporting to be its website.

    The bureau said it has no connection with the site – at https://bhsb588[.]online/ – and the case has been reported to Police for follow-up.

    The TLB’s genuine website is https://www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/index.html.

    Citizens are advised to stay alert to suspicious websites, remain vigilant in protecting personal information, and refrain from clicking on any hyperlinks from unknown sources.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Nasdaq Verafin Announces Launch of its Agentic AI Workforce, Delivering a Step Change in AML Compliance Efficiency

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nasdaq Verafin today announced the launch of the Agentic AI Workforce, a suite of digital workers that will deliver a step change in the way banks conduct anti-money laundering (AML) compliance by automating low-value, high-volume compliance processes. Building on the successful adoption of its GenAI Entity Research Copilot, Nasdaq Verafin’s Agentic AI Workforce is made up of digital workers that can be deployed by banks to execute complex tasks, including decisioning, with minimal supervision.

    According to Nasdaq Verafin’s Global Financial Crime Report, a survey of more than 200 industry professionals found that 75% of respondents had increased their investment in headcount over the prior year to improve financial crime prevention efforts. However, despite increased investment in headcount, nearly half of respondents reported a lack of adequate resources and technology to fight financial crime. With the ability to independently analyze, document, and decision end-to-end processes, the digital workers enable banks to reallocate resources to more sophisticated investigations and outcomes-focused activities.

    “In today’s operating environment, banks are tasked with navigating a growing number of compliance challenges from evolving regulatory requirements to the shortcomings of legacy technology and impact of resource constraints on compliance teams,” said Rob Norris, SVP and Head of Product, Nasdaq Verafin. “Our Agentic AI Workforce will transform the way banks of all sizes approach AML compliance, delivering a step change in efficiency gains that allows compliance teams to shift efforts and focus on the important work of tackling serious financial crimes such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other facets of organized crime.”

    The first of the digital workers will focus on two of the most resource-intensive areas of compliance – Sanctions Screening and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) reviews. Currently in beta, the first digital workers are expected to be available to Nasdaq Verafin clients later this year.

    The Digital Sanctions Analyst will aid Sanctions Screening by dispositioning, documenting, and actioning false positive alerts, while escalating true matches for further review by bank investigators. Sanctions compliance is a complex and costly problem for financial institutions, with compliance failures leading to civil penalties and reputational damage. Further, legacy approaches to Sanctions Screening can hamper compliance teams with an overwhelming number of false positive alerts. Initial results show that Nasdaq Verafin’s Digital Sanctions Analyst reduces a bank’s alert review workload by more than 80%.

    The Digital EDD Analyst will automate a bank’s periodic EDD review process, actioning low-risk cases that do not require further investigation, offering significant efficiency gains for banks. Meeting regulatory requirements for conducting EDD reviews of high-risk customers is a growing challenge for financial institutions, as reviews at most institutions rely on time-consuming manual processes. The Digital EDD Analyst will allow financial institutions to streamline their risk review process, delivering a step change in efficiency and significantly reducing operational expenses.

    The launch of the Agentic AI Workforce represents the latest evolution of Nasdaq Verafin’s industry-leading financial crime management solutions, following the successful rollout of the GenAI Entity Research copilot. Since releasing the Entity Research Copilot into Nasdaq Verafin’s case management module in the second quarter of 2025, clients have leveraged this feature in tens of thousands of cases to help streamline and expedite investigations and documentation. In all, more than 1,300 clients have benefited from Nasdaq Verafin’s integrated GenAI copilot capabilities across its platform since launch.

    “The financial services industry is grappling with mounting pressure to enhance operational efficiency while maintaining robust compliance operations amid increasingly sophisticated threats,” said Chuck Subrt, the Fraud & AML Practice Director at Datos Insights. “We are witnessing a transformative shift as institutions seek to automate resource-intensive workflows that traditionally consume the vast majority of analysts’ time on data collection and processing. Digital workforce solutions like Nasdaq Verafin’s Agentic AI Workforce flip the investigator time equation to enable human experts to focus on high-value decision-making and critical analysis.”

    Please visit https://verafin.com/artificial-intelligence to learn more about Nasdaq Verafin’s Agentic AI Workforce.

    About Nasdaq Verafin

    Nasdaq Verafin provides Financial Crime Management Technology solutions for Fraud Detection and Management, AML/CFT Compliance and Management, High-Risk Customer Management, Sanctions Screening and Management, and Information Sharing. More than 2,600 financial institutions, representing over $10T in collective assets, use Nasdaq Verafin to prevent fraud and strengthen AML/CFT efforts. Visit www.verafin.com to learn more.

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 
    Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Nasdaq cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “will,” “may”, and other words and terms of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to potential savings, efficiency gains, or product results. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond Nasdaq’s control. These risks and uncertainties are detailed in Nasdaq’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q which are available on Nasdaq’s investor relations website at http://ir.nasdaq.com and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Nasdaq undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    © 2025 Nasdaq, Inc. The Nasdaq logo and the Nasdaq ‘ribbon’ logo are the registered and unregistered trademarks, or service marks, of Nasdaq, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. All rights reserved. This communication and the content found by following any link herein are being provided to you by Nasdaq, Inc. and/or certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Nasdaq”), for informational purposes only. Nasdaq makes no representation or warranty with respect to this communication or such content and expressly disclaims any implied warranty under law. At the time of publication, the information herein was believed to be accurate, however, such information is subject to change without notice. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation, solicitation, invitation, inducement, promotion, or offer for the purchase or sale of any investment product, nor shall this material be construed in any way as investment, legal, or tax advice, or as a recommendation, reference, or endorsement by Nasdaq.

    Nasdaq Media Relations Contact

    Nick Eghtessad
    +1.929.996.8894 
    Nick.Eghtessad@Nasdaq.com

    NDAQF

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Beneficient Appoints Tom Hicks as Chairman and James Silk as Interim Chief Executive Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beneficient (NASDAQ: BENF) (“Ben” or the “Company”), a technology-enabled platform providing exit opportunities and primary capital solutions and related trust and custody services to holders of alternative assets through its proprietary online platform AltAccess, today announced the separation of the roles of Chairman of the Board of Directors (“Board”) and Chief Executive Officer with the appointment of Thomas O. Hicks as Chairman of the Board and James G. Silk as its interim Chief Executive Officer.

    Mr. Hicks is a private equity pioneer with a decades-long record of success. He founded one of the early prominent private equity firms through which more than $12 billion was raised across six funds, completing more than $50 billion of leveraged acquisitions. Currently, through his family office, Mr. Hicks leads a seasoned team of private equity professionals who specialize in small and middle market transactions in specialty manufacturing, energy, food and beverage, media, and special situations. Mr. Hicks has served on the Board since 2018.

    Mr. Hicks said: “I am eager to assume this leadership position and to begin working to realize the Company’s full potential. An important first step is to appoint the right Interim CEO. Mr. Silk’s belief in the Company’s core strategy and significant experience with Beneficient and in financial services makes him the right person to guide us forward as we work to regain momentum and drive shareholder value.”

    “I am excited to return to Beneficient and work with the Board and leadership team to navigate this transition period in order to position the Company for long term success,” Mr. Silk said.

    Mr. Silk has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Company, overseeing Beneficient’s operations, underwriting, risk, and legal groups, from January 2020 until May 2024. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors from January 2020 until May 2024. Prior to joining the Company in 2020, Mr. Silk was a Partner in the Asset Management Group of international law firm, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where he worked for more than 13 years. Prior to that position, Mr. Silk was an attorney at international law firm, A&O Shearman LLP.

    Throughout his career, Mr. Silk has advised clients on a wide variety of business and legal issues across the alternative assets industry. He has counseled many of the industry’s largest and most recognizable public and private asset management firms, including Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, KKR, Brookfield, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. Mr. Silk has extensive expertise on developing alternative asset products and negotiating asset management mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.

    Mr. Silk graduated with a BS in Finance from the University of Virginia and earned a JD, Summa Cum Laude, from St. John’s University School of Law.

    About Beneficient 
    Beneficient (Nasdaq: BENF) – Ben, for short – is on a mission to democratize the global alternative asset investment market by providing traditionally underserved investors − mid-to-high net worth individuals, small-to-midsized institutions and General Partners seeking exit options, anchor commitments and valued-added services for their funds− with solutions that could help them unlock the value in their alternative assets. Ben’s AltQuote® tool provides customers with a range of potential exit options within minutes, while customers can log on to the AltAccess® portal to explore opportunities and receive proposals in a secure online environment.

    Its subsidiary, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C., received its charter under the State of Kansas’ Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (TEFFI) Act and is subject to regulatory oversight by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner. 

    For more information, visit www.trustben.com or follow us on LinkedIn. 

    Contacts
    Matt Kreps: 214-597-8200, mkreps@darrowir.com
    Michael Wetherington: 214-284-1199, mwetherington@darrowir.com
    Investor Relations: investors@beneficient.com

    Forward Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our executive transition period, our ability to create shareholder value and our future success . The words ”anticipate,” “believe,” ”continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” ”plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, them. Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected.

    Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risks, uncertainties, and factors set forth under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the risks and uncertainties contained in the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, subsequent events, or circumstances or other changes affecting such statements except to the extent required by applicable law.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: State-owned companies’ purchases from SMEs exceeded 3.8 trillion rubles in the first half of 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    According to the results of the first half of 2025, the volume of purchases by government customers from small and medium-sized businesses under Federal Law 223 amounted to more than 3.8 trillion rubles, and the number of contracts exceeded 428 thousand. Almost 150 thousand SMEs became suppliers, which is 4.4% more than a year earlier.

    “The participation of small and medium-sized businesses in state-owned company purchases gives them access to a stable sales market. We see how the number of SME suppliers increases year after year and the range of purchased products expands. If earlier small businesses mainly purchased office supplies, furniture or paper, now it is increasingly industrial products. This indicates that small businesses are able to meet the demand of large companies in terms of quality and volume. Compared to the same period last year, the number of SME suppliers who concluded contracts as a result of state purchases increased by more than 6.3 thousand and reached almost 150 thousand from all regions of Russia. By the end of 2025, the total volume of purchases from SMEs may exceed 9 trillion rubles,” said Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak.

    Alexander Novak emphasized the need to meet the payment deadlines for contracts with small and medium businesses. According to him, this is of strategic importance, since timely payments ensure the stability of SMEs, preventing cash flow gaps and creating conditions for the development of enterprises.

    The leading regions in terms of the amount of purchases from small and medium businesses were Moscow (more than 1.2 trillion rubles), St. Petersburg (345 billion rubles), the Republic of Tatarstan (almost 250 billion rubles), Moscow Region (more than 200 billion rubles) and Sverdlovsk Region (almost 130 billion rubles).

    “We are noting the positive dynamics of growth in the volume of purchases from small and medium-sized businesses in a number of regions. The Republic of Tatarstan showed significant growth – almost 25 billion rubles, Samara and Rostov regions – more than 24 and 23 billion, respectively, the Donetsk People’s Republic – over 12 billion rubles, as well as the Yaroslavl region – more than 11.5 billion. The top ten leaders in terms of the rate of increase in purchases also included Primorsky Krai, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – with volumes of over 11.3 billion rubles, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) – 11.3 billion, as well as the Irkutsk Region and the Udmurt Republic, where volumes exceeded 9 billion rubles. These results are an indicator of the active involvement of SMEs in the public procurement system and a reflection of targeted work to develop entrepreneurship in the regions,” commented Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia Tatyana Ilyushnikova.

    For companies with state participation, there is a mandatory 25% quota for purchases from small and medium-sized businesses. It was established by the Government of the Russian Federation, and compliance is monitored by the SME Corporation and regional government agencies. Expanding the participation of small and medium-sized businesses in purchases under Federal Law No. 223 is one of the objectives of the federal project “Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurship” of the national project “Efficient and Competitive Economy”.

    “Based on the results of the first half of 2025, manufacturing products came out on top in terms of purchase volumes from SME suppliers. Over the course of six months, the largest customers purchased over 1.3 trillion rubles worth of them. This is an important trend both for assessing the state of the SME sector in terms of competencies in supplying industrial products, including high-tech ones, and for continuing the qualitative growth of the segment. The leading industries also included services for scientific, engineering, technical and professional activities (209.1 billion rubles), as well as IT, where the purchase volume amounted to 170 billion rubles,” said Alexander Isaevich, CEO of the SME Corporation.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 13th Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Legal Seminar concludes (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    13th Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Legal Seminar concludes  
         Addressing the opening ceremony at the seminar, the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, said that since the promulgation and implementation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area more than six years ago, the legal departments and legal sectors of the three places have worked hard to continuously deepen co-operation and promote the high-quality development of the GBA. The remarkable progress of co-operation in the legal and dispute resolution fields has laid a solid foundation for closer co-operation in the GBA in the future. As the construction of the GBA continues to advance, it is particularly important to promote legal harmonisation between the three places and strengthen exchanges and co-operation in the legal sector. He expressed hope that everyone will contribute wisdom and strength to the high-quality development of the GBA to open up broader prospects for legal co-operation among the three places.
     
         The seminar focused on four topics, namely “Strengthening legislative co-ordination among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, and promoting the interfaces of regulatory frameworks and mechanisms in the GBA”; “Data element market governance and competition order protection in the GBA”; “Legal obstacles and institutional innovation in cross-border co-ordination of protection of intellectual property rights in the GBA”; and “Establishing a diversified mechanism for the resolution of cross-border financial disputes in the GBA”. Officials of the three places, representatives of the Hong Kong Bar Association and the Law Society of Hong Kong, as well as legal professionals and experienced practitioners served as moderators and speakers to share experiences and exchange views on promoting the construction of the GBA with high-quality rule of law.
     
         Concluding the seminar, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, said that the DoJ has been actively taking forward its work in setting up a dedicated platform for GBA lawyers and a GBA legal information platform, supporting the legal sector to deepen professional co-operation with Guangdong and Macao counterparts with a view to better supporting the professional development of GBA lawyers and enhancing the exchange of legal information, contributing to the construction of foreign-related rule of law of the country.
    Issued at HKT 18:17

    NNNN

    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ, others to attend Belt-Road event

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, in his capacity as the chair of the sub-group on Belt & Road development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, will lead Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials in attending the eighth “Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in & Contribution to the Belt & Road Initiative”, due to be held on Thursday in Beijing. 

    The other officials attending include Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn, Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Maggie Wong, Under Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Joseph Chan and Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Lillian Cheong.

    During his stay in Beijing, Mr Lam and Law Officer (International Law) in the Department of Justice James Ding will visit the State Council’s Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on the progress of the Department of Justice’s major policy initiatives, including relevant work on the International Organization for Mediation and promoting Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre.

    Mr Lam will also visit the Ministry of Commerce to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

    He will return to Hong Kong on the afternoon of July 24. During Mr Lam’s absence, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary for Justice.

    In Mr Yau’s absence, Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be Acting Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development. During Ms Linn’s absence, Under Secretary for Development David Lam will be Acting Secretary for Development.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Criminal Illegal Alien with Lengthy Rap Sheet Ambushes and Shoots CBP Officer in New York City

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: VIDEO: Criminal Illegal Alien with Lengthy Rap Sheet Ambushes and Shoots CBP Officer in New York City

    A witness of the attack—believed to be an attempted robbery—states that she and the victim were sitting on the rocks by the water when 2 subjects on a scooter drove up to them and the passenger got off the back and approached them with a firearm drawn

    The off-duty CBP officer responded by withdrawing his own firearm in self defense

    The CBP officer was shot in his right arm and left cheek

    Thankfully, the officer is in stable condition at the hospital

    Video of the attack is below

    Image

    One of the assailants is Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, a criminal illegal alien from the Dominican Republic

    He illegally entered the United States on April 4, 2023, and was released by the Biden Administration into the country

    Image

    This criminal illegal alien’s rap sheet includes:  

    On October 11, 2023, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) arrested and charged Nunez with felony grand larceny, petit larceny, and reckless driving

    On October 01, 2024, the NYPD arrested and charged Nunez with 2nd and 3rd degree assault

    On November 30, 2024, the NYPD arrested Nunez for criminal contempt

    On January 13, 2025, he was again attested for criminal contempt

    On February 21, 2025, the Leominster Police Department in Massachusetts issued a criminal warrant for Nunez for armed robbery with a firearm

    After failing to show up for his immigration hearing a judge issued Nunez a final order of removal on November 6, 2024

    “This violent criminal illegal alien had multiple run-ins with NYPD for assault and felony grand larceny before he ambushed and shot a CBP officer

    The Biden Administration arrested this criminal illegal alien at the border and chose to release him into our country to terrorize Americans

    We are thankful that our brave law enforcement officer is in stable condition,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin

    “Sanctuary city politicians allowed this to happen

    This suffering is a direct result of lawless sanctuary city policies

    Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, DHS will flood the zone in sanctuary cities and remove these criminals one by one

    We will not be deterred: if you break America’s laws we will hunt you down, arrest you, and deport you

    ”   

    The other suspect remains at large

    Anonymous tips may be reported on this form and via the toll-free ICE tip line, (866) 347-2423

      
    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Six Months of Keeping America Safe Under President Trump and Secretary Noem

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Six Months of Keeping America Safe Under President Trump and Secretary Noem

    lass=”text-align-center”>DHS has accomplished more in six months than most Administrations achieve in an entire term
    WASHINGTON – In just six months, President Trump and Secretary Noem have delivered the American people a long list of victories in their mission to secure the homeland and Make America Safe Again

     
    Under their leadership, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has closed the southern border, removed violent criminal illegal aliens, restored law and order to our immigration system, supported Americans in times of crisis, revolutionized our Coast Guard to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, and kept Americans safe

     
    Secured the Southern Border 

    On day one, President Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border

        
    President Trump immediately reinstated “Remain in Mexico” and ended catch-and-release

     
    Daily border encounters have plunged by 93% since President Trump took office

    Under President Trump’s leadership, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has located over 10,000 unaccompanied children

    Migrants are turning BACK before they even reach our border— migration through Panama’s Darien Gap is down 99%

    President Trump—with $46

    5 billion from the Big Beautiful Bill—is finishing the border wall

    DHS already has more than 85 miles either planned or under construction with funding from the prior year, in addition to hundreds of miles that are now planned to be funded by the bill

     President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill also includes over $5 billion for new technology and border surveillance

    With the Big Beautiful Bill, CBP will get the resources they need to keep America safe, including $4

    1 billion to hire additional personnel, including 5,000 more customs officers and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents

    In June, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had the lowest number of nationwide encounters in CBP history at 25,228

    The number of nationwide apprehensions in June was also a historic low of just 8,024

       
    Notably, on June 28, Border Patrol recorded only 136 apprehensions across the entire Southwest Border—the lowest single-day total in agency history

    And in both May and June, U

    S

    Border Patrol reported zero parole releases—reinforcing the Administration’s commitment to ending catch-and-release policies

    Removed the Worst of the Worst Illegal Aliens  

    The Trump Administration empowered our brave men and women in law enforcement to use common sense to do their jobs effectively

     
    DHS returned to using the term “illegal alien” which is the statutory language

    President Trump will not allow political correctness to hinder law enforcement

     
    The Trump administration has arrested more than 300,000 illegal aliens in 2025 alone

    70% of ICE arrests are criminal illegal aliens with criminal charges or convictions

         
    The Big Beautiful Bill will allow ICE to arrest and remove even more criminal aliens by providing $14

    4 billion for removals, 10,000 new ICE agents, 80,000 new ICE beds, and a $10,000 signing bonus for new ICE agents

    This will help ICE achieve as many as 1 million deportations per year

    As part of 287(g), DHS partnered with the State of Florida and opened Alligator Alcatraz, giving the Trump administration the capability to lock up some of the worst scumbags who entered the country illegally under the previous administration

    The new facility expands facility and bed space by the thousands

    Operation Tidal Wave, the first 287(g) enforcement operation coordinated with state and federal law enforcement partners, resulted in over 800 arrests

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are empowering state and local law enforcement to get these criminal illegal aliens off our streets

    DHS has secured more than 800 signed agreements with state and local partnerships under 287(g)

        
    At the direction of President Trump, CBP and ICE began widescale immigration enforcement operations in sanctuary city Los Angeles and southern California

    The month-long operation resulted in arresting some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens

    In July, federal law enforcement officers executed criminal warrant operations at marijuana grow sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo

    At least 14 migrant children have been rescued from potential exploitation, forced labor and human trafficking

    Federal officers also arrested at least 361 illegal aliens from both sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo

    After weeks of delays by activist judges, the Department of Homeland Security finally deported eight barbaric, violent criminal illegal aliens to South Sudan

    Delivering Justice for Victims of Illegal Immigration  

    President Trump and Secretary Noem reopened the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office, which was shuttered by the Biden Administration

    President Trump and Secretary Noem are standing up for the victims of illegal alien crime and ensuring they have access to much needed resources and support they deserve

    Incentivizing Historic Self-Deportations 

    President Trump ended the CBP One app that allowed more than one million aliens to illegally enter the U

    S

    The Trump Administration replaced this disastrous program with the CBP Home app, which has a new self-deportation reporting feature for aliens illegally in the country

    President Trump launched Project Homecoming through a presidential EO

    The United States is also offering any illegal alien who uses the CBP Home App a stipend of $1,000 dollars, paid after their return to their home country has been confirmed through the app

    So far, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have used the app to self-deport

     
    In addition to offering CBP Home, DHS announced illegal aliens who self-deport through the app will receive forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties for failing to depart the United States

     DHS also made CBP Home more user friendly by eliminating certain steps and making it easier than ever for illegal aliens to self-deport

    DHS and DOJ are enforcing our immigration laws and fining illegal aliens who do not depart when they are supposed to

    So far, nearly 10,000 fine notices have been issued by ICE

    Restoring Common Sense to America’s Legal Immigration System 

    President Trump ended the broad abuse of humanitarian parole and returned the program to a case-by-case basis

    As part of this effort, Secretary Noem terminated the Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela parole programs

    Following victory at the U

    S

    Supreme Court, DHS began sending termination notices in June, informing the illegal aliens both their parole is terminated, and their parole-based employment authorization is revoked – effective immediately

    DHS has returned the Temporary Protected Status immigration program to its original status: temporary

    No longer will this program be abused and exploited by illegal aliens

    Secretary Noem rescinded the previous administration’s extension of Venezuelan, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Afghan TPS

    Secretary Noem terminated Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification—meaning Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status—for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party

    It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from higher tuition to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments

    Harvard University repeatedly abused this privilege and even stonewalled DHS’s request for information

    Initiating a Golden Age in American Air Travel 

    Secretary Noem terminated the politically motivated Quiet Skies Program, which since its existence has failed to stop a single terrorist attack while costing US taxpayers $200 million a year

    The program, under the guise of “national security,” was used to target political opponents and benefit political allies

    TSA ended the “shoes-off” travel policy, allowing passengers traveling through domestic airports to keep their shoes on while passing through security screening at TSA checkpoints

    This change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience

    The Trump administration fully implemented REAL ID enforcement measures nationwide—a law signed 20 years ago

    REAL ID helps ensure that travelers are who they say they are and prevents fraud by criminals, terrorists, and illegal aliens

    Most travelers have not even noticed a difference because nearly 94% of travelers are already REAL ID compliant

    Secretary Noem ended collective bargaining for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Security Officers, which constrained TSA’s chief mission to safeguard our transportation systems

    Fixing Disaster Relief for the 21st Century 

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency is now shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens

    The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades

    President Trump has established the FEMA Review Council to provide recommendations on how to best conduct disaster relief at the federal level

     
    Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, the FEMA Review Council is developing a comprehensive plan for necessary change

    DHS has empowered state and local governments to lead disaster relief efforts without interference from the federal government

    Provided Rapid and Effective Support to Flood Victims in Texas 

    Within moments of the flooding in Texas, DHS assets, including the U

    S

    Coast Guard (USCG), CBP Border Search, CBP BORSTAR, and FEMA personnel surged into unprecedented action alongside Texas first responders for search and rescue operations

    FEMA deployed 311 staffers delivering critical intelligence, aerial imagery, and shelter for 171 survivors

    Combined state and federal rescue efforts evacuated and rescued over 1,500 people

    Getting CISA Back on Mission 

    Under the Biden Administration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) censored free speech and targeted Americans

    Under President Trump’s direction, DHS closed CISA’s politically weaponized offices and fired those responsible for abusing their power

    CISA is now back on-mission: Protecting Americans and critical infrastructure from cyberthreats

    CISA is shifting away from an all-hazards approach to a risk-informed approach, prioritizing resilience and action over mere information sharing

     
    CISA personnel are deployed across 10 regions in support of all 56 states/territories

     
    CISA is also on the front lines of defending America from cyberattacks

     
    CISA partnered with the FBI and NSA to ensure state and local governments have information and resources necessary for protection

    CISA is also providing security support for next year’s FIFA World Cup

    Secretary Noem discontinued the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) as a part of the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, and removed members of the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which CISA oversees

    Revolutionizing the Coast Guard 

    When President Trump came back into office, the Coast Guard faced its greatest readiness crisis since World War II because the Biden Administration left it underfunded and neglected

    President Trump’s order to surge Coast Guard assets to our maritime border changed the game

    In the first few months of the Trump Administration, the Coast Guard seized more cocaine and other illegal drugs than during the entirety of 2024

    For the first time in years, the Coast Guard expects to exceed its recruiting goals

    In Fiscal Year 2025, the Coast Guard has brought in more than 4,250 recruits – 1,200 more than the same time last year

    That’s 108% over the goal

    Under Biden, the Coast Guard fell short of its recruiting goals four years straight

    Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, the Coast Guard is unleashing “Force Design 2028,” a revolutionary new blueprint that will make the Coast Guard more agile, more capable, and more responsive than ever before

    Standing up for the American taxpayer 

    The United States Coast Guard (USCG) eliminated an ineffective information technology (IT) program, saving nearly $33 million, and is now focusing resources where they’re most needed to protect our homeland

     
    USCG partially terminated a wasteful Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG), which has been slow to deliver four OPCs, harming U

    S

    defense capabilities

    The Trump Administration stopped aliens on the Terror Watchlist from receiving Medicaid benefits

         
    Secretary Noem cancelled CISA’s expensive headquarters project, saving taxpayers over half a billion dollars

    To stop policies that were magnets for illegal immigration, DHS froze all funding to non-governmental organizations that facilitate illegal immigration and announced a partnership with the U

    S

    Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure taxpayer dollars do not go to housing illegal aliens

     
    ###  

    MIL OSI USA News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SJ to lead government officials to attend joint conference on Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, in his capacity as the chair of the sub-group on Belt and Road development under the Steering Group on Integration into National Development, will lead Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials, including the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Maggie Wong; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, to attend the eighth Joint Conference on Advancing Hong Kong’s Full Participation in and Contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative to be held on Thursday morning (July 24), with departures for Beijing tomorrow (July 22) and on July 23 respectively.
     
         During his stay in Beijing, Mr Lam and the Law Officer (International Law) of the Department of Justice, Dr James Ding, will visit the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on the progress of the Department of Justice’s major policy initiatives, including the relevant works on the International Organization for Mediation and promoting Hong Kong’s position as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre. He will also visit the Ministry of Commerce to exchange views on matters of mutual interest.

         Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong on the afternoon of July 24. During Mr Lam’s absence, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, will be the Acting Secretary for Justice. During Mr Yau’s absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development. During Ms Linn’s absence, the Under Secretary for Development, Mr David Lam, will be the Acting Secretary for Development.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Film Archive to present screening programme “Cantonese Opera Films: The Legend of Guan Gong” (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

         The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a programme entitled “Cantonese Opera Films: The Legend of Guan Gong” from August 30 to September 7. Five Cantonese opera films in the 1950s and 1960s starring virtuosos will be screened at the Cinema of HKFA to revisit the incomparable skills and talents of the masters. This screening programme is one of the programmes of the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025.
     
         Guan Yu, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms period, was well known for his loyalty and righteousness. His legend has been frequently adapted in Chinese opera and theatre, to the extent that Peking and Cantonese opera traditions, among others, have Guan Gong (Lord Guan) as a genre of performance. The highlight of any notable interpretation of Lord Guan in the genre is how the performer brings out the stature and impressiveness of the character. The performer also needs to display mastery of both stage movements and vocal techniques, while complementing the majesty of luogu (gong-and-drum) music and showcasing the aesthetics of unadorned simplicity and elegance.
     
         Kwan Tak-hing, who was lauded as “Living Lord Guan” for his virtuoso skills, plays the role of Guan Yu in “Kwan-Ti, God of War” (1956) (2K Digitised Version) and “General Kwan Escorts His Sisters-in-Law on a Thousand Mile Journey” (1957) (2K Digitised Version). The former focuses on the tales between Guan and the legendary beauty Diao Chan, played by Tang Bik-wan, while the latter tells the story of the dangers and hardships that Guan encountered while escorting Liu Bei’s two wives on their journey. The films recorded Kwan’s impressive Cantonese opera performances in the role of Lord Guan, especially through his postures, movements and walking styles. The screening of “General Kwan Escorts His Sisters-in-Law on a Thousand Mile Journey” features a newly digitised version of the film from the HKFA’s collection, which should not be missed.
     
         The “General Kwan Guards the Huarong Path Lau Bei Crosses the River to Meet His Bride” (1957) tells the story of Sun Quan pretending to offer his sister’s hand in marriage to Liu Bei, played by Cheung Wood-yau, in an ultimately failed attempt to take back Jingzhou from Liu. Leng Wah Hang, a highly acclaimed wusheng actress of Cantonese opera, gives a definitive performance as Lord Guan in the film, especially in the scenes where she wields the Green Dragon Crescent Blade masterfully in a perfect display of techniques. The film will be screened with “Drowning Seven Armies” from “An Ideal Couple” (1960) (2K Digitised Version), starring another Cantonese opera virtuoso Sun Chu, who was also lauded as “Living Lord Guan”, in the role of Guan Yu. Following the Peking opera tradition, Sun Chu portrayed Lord Guan with a red face. The image of Lord Guan with a red face was so well received that it has since become the hallmark of the role in Cantonese opera.
     
         “Lui Bo” (1961) (2K Digitised Version) depicts the life of general Lü Bu, played by actress Yu So-chow, as described in the classical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”. In the film, the character of Guan Yu is played by the acclaimed Peking opera actor Yu Zhanyuan, father of Yu So-chow. The father-daughter duo appears onscreen together as enemies in a fight scene, which is a spectacular display of their skills and stage presence.
     
         Some of the screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks, hosted by Professor Yuen Siu-fai and Yuen Tsz-ying.
     
         Tickets priced at $60 will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from July 25 (Friday). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. A 20 per cent discount is available for every purchase of regular-priced tickets for two or more screenings of this programme. For programme details, please visit (www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/ccf-guan-gong/pe-event-2025-ccf-guan-gong.html) or call 2739 2139.
     
         The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public’s national identity and cultural confidence. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2025, please visit www.ccf.gov.hk.

                  

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Oral question – Methodological and democratic deficiencies in the Commission’s public consultations – a call for reform – O-000025/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for oral answer  O-000025/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 142
    Christine Anderson
    on behalf of the ESN Group

    Over the past decade, the Commission has increasingly used public consultations to bolster claims of transparency and democratic legitimacy. Now central to the Better Regulation agenda, they accompany nearly all major legislative initiatives[1]. While public participation is fundamental to representative democracy, independent audits and academic research highlight serious flaws in how these consultations are designed and interpreted[2].

    Consultations routinely suffer from self-selection bias, as responses mainly come from actors with a pre-existing interest or resources, skewing outcomes away from the broader EU population[3]. The Commission rarely employs scientifically robust techniques such as randomised sampling, post-stratification weighting or neutral question framing, all of which are standard in public opinion research.

    The format itself restricts participation. Dense documents, technical language and online-only access exclude many citizens with a lower level of education, limited digital access or little familiarity with EU processes[4]. There is growing concern that consultation outcomes have limited policy impact, with decisions often shaped earlier by lobbying or internal agendas[5].

    • 1.Given these concerns, how does the Commission justify treating its consultation methods as credible democratic engagement, despite their lack of core safeguards from social science?
    • 2.What reforms will the Commission introduce to reduce participation bias, reach beyond organised stakeholders and improve accessibility for under-represented and digitally excluded groups?
    • 3.Will the Commission adopt rigorous techniques such as randomised and stratified sampling, statistical weighting and neutral framing to ensure that outcomes reflect the views of the broader EU public?
    • 4.Finally, what steps will be taken to ensure that consultation results are systematically analysed, publicly reported and meaningfully reflected in legislation?

    Submitted: 17.7.2025

    Lapses: 18.10.2025

    • [1] Rangone, N., ‘Improving consultation to ensure the EU’s democratic legitimacy: From traditional procedural requirements to behavioural insights’, European Law Journal, Volume 28, Issue 4-6, July-November 2022, pp. 154-171, https://doi.org/10.1111/eulj.12439.
    • [2] European Court of Auditors Special Report 14/2019 of 5 September 2019 entitled ‘“Have your say!”: Commission’s public consultations engage citizens, but fall short of outreach activities’.
    • [3] Røed, M. & Hansen, V., ‘Explaining Participation Bias in the European Commission’s Online Consultations: The Struggle for Policy Gain without too Much Pain’, Journal of Common Market Studies, Volume 56, Issue 6, September 2018, pp. 1446-1461, https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.12754.
    • [4] Centre of Expertise for Good Governance of the Council of Europe, ‘Comparative analysis of European practices on public consultations’, Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 5 July 2021, https://rm.coe.int/council-of-europe-comparative-analysis-of-european-practices-on-public/1680aef56f.
    • [5] Thompson, L., ‘Is the EU’s consultation process broken?’, The Parliament, 5 September 2023, https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/eu-consultation-process-citizen-participation.
    Last updated: 21 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: XRP Jumps 75% a Month: PFMCrypto Rolls Out Disruptive XRP Cloud Mining, Sparking Market Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XRP has surged nearly 75.3% since June 23, climbing to a new yearly high of $3.65. As excitement sweeps through the crypto markets, PFMCrypto has officially launched a groundbreaking innovation: Ripple’s XRP cloud mining contracts—zero hardware, daily rewards, and fully remote access for users worldwide.
    This strategic launch comes at a pivotal moment for XRP, as its momentum nears a key resistance level. PFMCrypto analysts believe that a confirmed breakout above $4 could signal a long-anticipated push toward a new all-time high. With the XRP community expanding rapidly, this move empowers both newcomers and experienced investors to participate directly in XRP’s ecosystem—without the need for complex infrastructure.
    Explore PFMCrypto XRP Mining Platform: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    XRP Cloud Mining Is Here—Simple, Smart, and Rewarding
    Long known for its role in cross-border transactions and institutional-grade settlements, XRP now enters a new chapter through PFMCrypto’s easy-to-use cloud mining solution. Users can mine XRP directly through short-term contracts or let PFMCrypto’s proprietary AI engine dynamically switch between the most profitable coins—including BTC, ETH, DOGE, and USDC—for consistent, optimized returns.
    Whether on mobile or web, PFMCrypto’s platform is built for global access and delivers an effortless mining experience with daily payouts in the user’s chosen cryptocurrency.
    Explore the PFMCrypto website or download the app today.

    Key Features of PFMCrypto’s XRP Cloud Mining Contracts:
    –  Full XRP Integration: Deposit, mine, and withdraw XRP within one streamlined interface.
    –  Multi-Coin Mining Support: Choose to mine and earn in BTC, ETH, DOGE, USDC, USDT, SOL, LTC, or BCH.
    –  AI Revenue Optimization: Smart algorithms auto-allocate resources to maximize earnings.
    –  Fully Remote Access: No equipment required—everything runs in the cloud via browser or app.
    –  Capital Protection: All contracts include full principal return at maturity for built-in risk reduction.

    Mining Contracts for Every Budget and Strategy
    To meet the diverse needs of the XRP community, PFMCrypto offers a flexible contract structure that supports XRP-based deposits and withdrawals:
    $10 Contract – 1 Day – Earn $0.66 (Free with sign-up bonus)
    $100 Contract – 2 Days – Earn $3.00/day + $2 reward
    $500 Contract – 5 Days – Earn $6.15/day
    $5,000 Contract – 30 Days – Earn $78.50/day
    $20,000 Contract – 45 Days – Earn $380.00/day
    From testing the waters with short-term plans to building a diversified crypto income stream, PFMCrypto offers low-risk, transparent solutions with steady daily earnings in XRP.

    Click here to view all XRP mining contracts: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    Why PFMCrypto’s XRP Mining Stands Out?
    –  No Hardware Needed: Anyone can mine XRP—no rigs, no setup, no technical barriers.
    –  XRP-Native Workflow: Deposit, mine, and withdraw—all within a single platform.
    –  Stable Earnings with AI Precision: Daily income backed by smart allocation across top coins.
    –  Multi-Asset Flexibility: Mine XRP or auto-diversify into other cryptos using one contract.
    –  Global Reach, Instant Setup: Start mining from anywhere via mobile app or browser—securely and instantly.

    Get Started in 3 Simple Steps:
    1. Sign Up – Create your account and receive a $10 welcome bonus
    2. Choose a Plan – Pick a short or long-term mining contract (1–60 days)
    3. Start Earning – Monitor your daily rewards and withdraw in your preferred cryptocurrency

    XRP Mining for a Digital Future:
    Since 2018, PFMCrypto has helped millions of users generate passive income through cloud-based crypto mining. With the latest integration of XRP mining, the platform merges institutional-grade infrastructure with retail accessibility—allowing users to mine XRP securely and remotely.
    “XRP has always been a fast, efficient, and scalable asset,” said a PFMCrypto spokesperson. “Now, it’s mineable—without hardware, without friction. We’re opening the door for everyone to earn from XRP’s rising momentum.”
    As XRP flirts with a critical $4 inflection point, PFMCrypto positions itself as the bridge between growing token demand and decentralized mining access. With bullish momentum continuing to build, now may be the best time to enter the XRP economy—one mining contract at a time.
    Join the XRP mining movement now at: https://pfmcrypto.net 

    Or download the PFMCrypto app on iOS and Android

    The MIL Network –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment to the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee: July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Appointment to the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee: July 2025

    The Lord Chancellor, after consulting the Lady Chief Justice, has approved the appointment of Bartholomew Dalton as a solicitor member of the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee, for 4 years from 1 September 2025.

    Bartholomew Dalton is a solicitor and key member of the Serious and General Crime team at top-ranked London criminal defence firm Hickman & Rose.

    He has represented clients accused of a wide range of offences and provides expert advice in relation to all stages of criminal cases, from investigation through to trial and appeal. He is an experienced police station representative, litigator and advocate in the Magistrates’ Court and litigator in the Crown Court. He is recommended as an “associate to watch” in Chambers & Partners and as a “key lawyer” in the Legal 500.

    Mr Dalton is the co-author of the 2 most recent editions of the leading practitioners’ handbook Blackstone’s Magistrates’ Court Handbook, published by Oxford University Press, and is currently working on the next edition. He is also a member of Criminal Law Week’s commentary board and a committee member and the law reform officer for the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association.

    Mr Dalton qualified as a solicitor in 2017 before joining Hickman & Rose in 2021.

    The Courts Act 2003 established the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) to make rules and governing the practice and procedure of magistrates’ courts, the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division.

    Appointments are made, by the Lord Chancellor, under the Courts Act 2003, and are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. This appointment has been made in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 21 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Interuniversity Dialogue: Polytechnic University Develops Cooperation with the University Community of Southern Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Professor of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics of the Institute of Mechanics and Technology and the Law of the Russian Federation Alexander Babkin took part in the work of the dissertation council of the Donetsk Academy of Management and Public Administration. This event strengthened the academic cooperation of the two educational institutions.

    The Polytechnic professor was the first opponent of Anna Borodatskaya’s candidate dissertation on the topic “Methods and criteria for assessing the effectiveness of the construction complex management system.” Based on the results of the defense, the applicant was awarded the academic degree of candidate of economic sciences.

    At the meeting, Alexander Babkin also discussed cooperation issues with the chairperson of the dissertation council, Alina Kretova, and members of the council representing universities in the south of Russia. The conversation concerned not only scientific aspects, but also interaction with the Donbass National Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture, which opens up new opportunities for joint research and exchange of experience.

    “Interaction with specialists from universities of the Donetsk People’s Republic will contribute to the development of our scientific ties. I would like to especially note the high level of the dissertation council staff and their interest in working together,” Alexander Vasilyevich commented on the results of his trip. He emphasized the importance of establishing contacts between educational institutions that will be useful for both scientists and students.

    “The visit of representatives of the Higher School of Engineering and Economics to the universities of the Donetsk People’s Republic was a significant step in scientific cooperation and exchange of experience,” said the school’s director, Dmitry Rodionov.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cars damaged by homemade explosive devices

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Cars damaged by homemade explosive devices

    Monday, 21 July 2025 – 4:18 pm.

    Police are investigating two incidents reported by residents in the Kingborough area relating to the use of small, homemade explosive-type devices.
    In these incidents on Saturday night, damage was reported to property, including three separate vehicles.
    Police located a complete exhibit of one of these devices at the scene of a vehicle damage in Kingston Beach.
    This item has been taken for analysis and forensic examination, and investigations continue.
    These are believed to be isolated incidents, with no intent to target anyone.
    If members of the public find an aluminium foil-wrapped parcel or device, about 8cm long, they are advised to leave it alone and contact police.
    Police are calling for information relating to any persons or vehicles seen in the area of Ewing Avenue, Kingston Beach, about 9pm on Saturday and Beach Road and Endeavour Avenue, at Margate, about 9:30pm.
    If anyone has information regarding the incidents, they are urged to contact Kingston police on 131 44 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or www.crimestopperstas.com.au
    Please quote OR 780 411.

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Arrest – Aggravated assault – Moulden

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    NT Police have arrested a 42-year-old male following a siege on Friday afternoon in Moulden.

    Around 6:10pm, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received reports that a 72-year-old male had allegedly been assaulted with a machete at a unit complex on Moulden Terrace.

    It is alleged that the victim approached his neighbour’s unit to complain about loud music and a confrontation ensued, during which the male assaulted the victim whilst armed with a machete. 

    Police attended, and the victim was conveyed to Palmerston Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his hands and shoulder.

    The alleged offender retreated into his unit and Police negotiators and Territory Response Group were deployed to the scene.  The male later surrendered without incident.

    He has since been charged with Recklessly endangering serious harm and Unlawfully causing serious harm and has been remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court 22 July 2025.

    Police urge anyone with information about the incident to make contact on 131 444. Please quote reference number NTP2500072953. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Rescue Operation – Larapinta Trail

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    A female hiker has been rescued from the Larapinta Trail after the Northern Territory Police Force (NTPF) received notification of an emergency beacon activation yesterday evening.

    Around 7:45pm, police were notified by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) that an emergency beacon had been activated between Hugh Gorge and Serpentine Gorge on the Larapinta Trail.

    The NTPF’s Search and Rescue Section (SRS) coordinated the response and deployed police members to the location alongside St John Ambulance (SJA) personnel.

    The hiker was located at 1:30am this morning by police. She was assessed by SJA paramedics and conveyed back Alice Springs.

    SRS Senior Sergeant Paul Wood said, “This is another rescue in Central Australia that was greatly assisted by the hiker travelling with an emergency beacon.

    “For those considering hiking the Larapinta Trail, or undertaking any similar adventure in the Territory, please travel with enough food and water, ensure someone knows your itinerary, and carry an EPIRB, PLB or satellite communication device with you like this hiker did.”

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025

  • Youth Spiritual Summit concludes in Varanasi with launch of Kashi Declaration for Drug-Free India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Youth Spiritual Summit, held under the theme Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat, concluded on Sunday at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration — a visionary roadmap to drive a nationwide youth-led movement against drug addiction

    Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the summit brought together over 600 youth leaders from more than 120 spiritual and socio-cultural organisations, along with academicians, experts, and government representatives. The event was a moment in India’s pursuit of a drug-free society by 2047, uniting spiritual strength with youthful resolve.

    Over the course of four thematic plenary sessions, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the psychological and social impacts of substance abuse, the complexities of drug trafficking and supply chains, grassroots awareness strategies, and the critical role of spiritual and cultural institutions in prevention and rehabilitation. These deliberations culminated in the Kashi Declaration, which outlines a multi-dimensional and collaborative approach to drug de-addiction, rooted in India’s civilisational ethos and driven by youth leadership.

    Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, described the declaration as a collective Sankalp (resolve) arising from the reflections and dialogue of the summit. He emphasized that the document is not just a vision statement, but a shared commitment to national transformation.

    The Kashi Declaration calls for treating substance abuse as a complex public health and societal challenge. It recommends a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, integrating efforts from spiritual, educational, technological, and cultural domains. The declaration proposes the formation of a Joint National Committee for coordination among ministries, annual progress reporting mechanisms, and a national platform to connect individuals affected by substance abuse with support services.

    Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the unique role of spiritual organisations in this campaign, stating that Bharat’s spiritual legacy must now lead the charge in creating a drug-free generation. “Spiritual institutions will serve as the backbone of this Maha Abhiyan,” he said, urging collective action through community engagement.

    Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, also addressed the summit, invoking the cultural sanctity of Kashi. He described the ancient city as the “cradle of Sanatan Chetna,” where discipline and values guide personal and national progress. He warned that a nation where 65% of the population is youth cannot afford to succumb to addiction, stressing that only a liberated and conscious youth can build a strong future.

    The concluding session saw the participation of several prominent leaders, including Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment; Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism; Anil Rajbhar, Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs; and Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.

    The summit also marked a key step forward in the MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) framework. Going forward, MY Bharat volunteers and affiliated youth clubs will spearhead pledge campaigns, awareness drives, and grassroots outreach across the country. The Kashi Declaration will act as a guiding document, and its progress will be reviewed at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, ensuring accountability and long-term impact.

    July 21, 2025

  • Youth Spiritual Summit concludes in Varanasi with launch of Kashi Declaration for Drug-Free India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Youth Spiritual Summit, held under the theme Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat, concluded on Sunday at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration — a visionary roadmap to drive a nationwide youth-led movement against drug addiction

    Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the summit brought together over 600 youth leaders from more than 120 spiritual and socio-cultural organisations, along with academicians, experts, and government representatives. The event was a moment in India’s pursuit of a drug-free society by 2047, uniting spiritual strength with youthful resolve.

    Over the course of four thematic plenary sessions, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the psychological and social impacts of substance abuse, the complexities of drug trafficking and supply chains, grassroots awareness strategies, and the critical role of spiritual and cultural institutions in prevention and rehabilitation. These deliberations culminated in the Kashi Declaration, which outlines a multi-dimensional and collaborative approach to drug de-addiction, rooted in India’s civilisational ethos and driven by youth leadership.

    Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, described the declaration as a collective Sankalp (resolve) arising from the reflections and dialogue of the summit. He emphasized that the document is not just a vision statement, but a shared commitment to national transformation.

    The Kashi Declaration calls for treating substance abuse as a complex public health and societal challenge. It recommends a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, integrating efforts from spiritual, educational, technological, and cultural domains. The declaration proposes the formation of a Joint National Committee for coordination among ministries, annual progress reporting mechanisms, and a national platform to connect individuals affected by substance abuse with support services.

    Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the unique role of spiritual organisations in this campaign, stating that Bharat’s spiritual legacy must now lead the charge in creating a drug-free generation. “Spiritual institutions will serve as the backbone of this Maha Abhiyan,” he said, urging collective action through community engagement.

    Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, also addressed the summit, invoking the cultural sanctity of Kashi. He described the ancient city as the “cradle of Sanatan Chetna,” where discipline and values guide personal and national progress. He warned that a nation where 65% of the population is youth cannot afford to succumb to addiction, stressing that only a liberated and conscious youth can build a strong future.

    The concluding session saw the participation of several prominent leaders, including Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment; Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism; Anil Rajbhar, Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs; and Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.

    The summit also marked a key step forward in the MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) framework. Going forward, MY Bharat volunteers and affiliated youth clubs will spearhead pledge campaigns, awareness drives, and grassroots outreach across the country. The Kashi Declaration will act as a guiding document, and its progress will be reviewed at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, ensuring accountability and long-term impact.

    July 21, 2025

  • Youth Spiritual Summit concludes in Varanasi with launch of Kashi Declaration for Drug-Free India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Youth Spiritual Summit, held under the theme Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat, concluded on Sunday at the Rudraksh International Convention Centre in Varanasi with the formal adoption of the Kashi Declaration — a visionary roadmap to drive a nationwide youth-led movement against drug addiction

    Organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the summit brought together over 600 youth leaders from more than 120 spiritual and socio-cultural organisations, along with academicians, experts, and government representatives. The event was a moment in India’s pursuit of a drug-free society by 2047, uniting spiritual strength with youthful resolve.

    Over the course of four thematic plenary sessions, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the psychological and social impacts of substance abuse, the complexities of drug trafficking and supply chains, grassroots awareness strategies, and the critical role of spiritual and cultural institutions in prevention and rehabilitation. These deliberations culminated in the Kashi Declaration, which outlines a multi-dimensional and collaborative approach to drug de-addiction, rooted in India’s civilisational ethos and driven by youth leadership.

    Addressing the gathering, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, described the declaration as a collective Sankalp (resolve) arising from the reflections and dialogue of the summit. He emphasized that the document is not just a vision statement, but a shared commitment to national transformation.

    The Kashi Declaration calls for treating substance abuse as a complex public health and societal challenge. It recommends a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, integrating efforts from spiritual, educational, technological, and cultural domains. The declaration proposes the formation of a Joint National Committee for coordination among ministries, annual progress reporting mechanisms, and a national platform to connect individuals affected by substance abuse with support services.

    Dr. Mandaviya highlighted the unique role of spiritual organisations in this campaign, stating that Bharat’s spiritual legacy must now lead the charge in creating a drug-free generation. “Spiritual institutions will serve as the backbone of this Maha Abhiyan,” he said, urging collective action through community engagement.

    Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, also addressed the summit, invoking the cultural sanctity of Kashi. He described the ancient city as the “cradle of Sanatan Chetna,” where discipline and values guide personal and national progress. He warned that a nation where 65% of the population is youth cannot afford to succumb to addiction, stressing that only a liberated and conscious youth can build a strong future.

    The concluding session saw the participation of several prominent leaders, including Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment; Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism; Anil Rajbhar, Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs; and Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports.

    The summit also marked a key step forward in the MY Bharat (Mera Yuva Bharat) framework. Going forward, MY Bharat volunteers and affiliated youth clubs will spearhead pledge campaigns, awareness drives, and grassroots outreach across the country. The Kashi Declaration will act as a guiding document, and its progress will be reviewed at the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, ensuring accountability and long-term impact.

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Charges – Aggravated assault – Katherine

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Northern Territory Police have charged a 19-year-old male after an aggravated assault in Katherine over the weekend.

    He was arrested by investigators from Strike Force Cerberus and has since been charged with:

    • 1x Aggravated Robbery
    • 3x Aggravated Assault
    • 2x Going armed in public
    • 1x Theft
    • 1x Breach of Bail

    He was remanded to appear in Katherine Local Court today.

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: In a world first, The Hague wants to arrest Taliban leaders over their treatment of women – what happens next?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria, Lecturer in Criminal Law and International Law, Curtin University

    Earlier this month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan.

    The court’s Pre-Trial Chamber II cited reasonable grounds for believing supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani were guilty of “ordering, inducing or soliciting the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds.”

    The warrants – the first ever on charges of gender persecution – are being hailed as an “important vindication and acknowledgement of the rights of Afghan women and girls”.

    But will they improve the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan, given the Taliban does not recognise the court or its jurisdiction?

    The signs are not good with the Taliban denying the allegations and condemning the warrants as a “clear act of hostility [and an] insult to the beliefs of Muslims around the world”.

    Erased from public life

    Strict rules and prohibitions have been imposed on the Afghan people since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

    Women and girls have been singled out for even worse treatment by reason of their gender.

    According the warrants, the Taliban has

    severely deprived, through decrees and edicts, girls and women of the rights to education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion.

    Women are banned from public places and girls from attending school once they turn 12.

    Zahra Nader is the editor-in-chief of newsroom Zan Times which investigates human rights violations in Afghanistan. She says Afghan women and girls are being silenced, restricted and stripped of their basic human rights.

    It is this discriminatory system of control of woman and girls in Afghanistan that is at the core of the court’s prosecution.

    The warrants also accuse the Taliban of persecuting

    other persons who don’t conform with the Taliban’s ideological expectations of gender, gender identity or expression; and on political grounds against persons perceived as ‘allies of girls and women.

    This is the first time an international tribunal or court has confirmed crimes against humanity involving LGBTQIA+ victims. This marks an important milestone in the protection of sexual minorities under international law.

    Crimes against humanity

    International law clearly spells put the offences which constitute crimes against humanity.

    The aim is to protect civilians from serious and widespread attacks on their fundamental rights. Different definitions of crimes against humanity have been included in the statutes of a handful of international tribunals and courts.

    The definition under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the most comprehensive. It includes severe deprivation of personal liberty, murder, enslavement, rape, torture, forced deportation or apartheid.

    Specifically, the Taliban leaders are accused under Article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute, which states:

    Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender […] or other grounds that are universally recognised as impermissible under international law.

    Physical and direct violence is not necessary for persecution on “gender […] grounds” to be established. Systemic and institutionalised forms of harm, which can be the imposition of discriminatory societal norms, are sufficient.

    Women and girls are often disproportionately affected by Taliban policies and rules. But proving gender-based crimes have occurred is not enough. Discriminatory intent must also be established.

    The Taliban has been open about its religious beliefs and interpretations, suggesting a clear intention to persecute on the grounds of gender.

    Not just symbolic

    As with other cases, the court relies on the cooperation of states to execute and surrender those accused.

    The interim government in Kabul which was formed after the US-led invasion in 2001 became a party to the Rome Statute in 2003. Afghanistan remains legally obligated to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes – it must accept the Court’s jurisdiction in the matter.

    The Purple Saturdays Movement, an Afghan women-led protest group, is warning the arrest warrants must be more than just symbolic. Any failure to prosecute would likely result in an escalation of human rights violations:

    The Taliban has historically responded to international pressure not with reform, but by intensifying such repressive policies.

    Hopeful step

    It is important to note the strict policies and widespread abuses targeting women and girls in Afghanistan are ongoing, despite the intervention by the International Criminal Court.

    The court’s Office of the Prosecutor is stressing its commitment to pursuing “effective legal pathways” to bring the Taliban leadership to account. The Afghan Women’s Movement in Exile wants an independent international judicial committee established to monitor and accelerate the legal process.

    It is not yet clear if the warrants will actually lead to arrest and prosecution in The Hague. But we know this is possible. A prime example being the the arrest earlier this year of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

    At the very least, the arrests warrants are a hopeful step towards accountability for the Taliban and justice for the women and girls of Afghanistan.

    Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria 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. In a world first, The Hague wants to arrest Taliban leaders over their treatment of women – what happens next? – https://theconversation.com/in-a-world-first-the-hague-wants-to-arrest-taliban-leaders-over-their-treatment-of-women-what-happens-next-261008

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: In a world first, The Hague wants to arrest Taliban leaders over their treatment of women – what happens next?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria, Lecturer in Criminal Law and International Law, Curtin University

    Earlier this month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan.

    The court’s Pre-Trial Chamber II cited reasonable grounds for believing supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani were guilty of “ordering, inducing or soliciting the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds.”

    The warrants – the first ever on charges of gender persecution – are being hailed as an “important vindication and acknowledgement of the rights of Afghan women and girls”.

    But will they improve the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan, given the Taliban does not recognise the court or its jurisdiction?

    The signs are not good with the Taliban denying the allegations and condemning the warrants as a “clear act of hostility [and an] insult to the beliefs of Muslims around the world”.

    Erased from public life

    Strict rules and prohibitions have been imposed on the Afghan people since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

    Women and girls have been singled out for even worse treatment by reason of their gender.

    According the warrants, the Taliban has

    severely deprived, through decrees and edicts, girls and women of the rights to education, privacy and family life and the freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience and religion.

    Women are banned from public places and girls from attending school once they turn 12.

    Zahra Nader is the editor-in-chief of newsroom Zan Times which investigates human rights violations in Afghanistan. She says Afghan women and girls are being silenced, restricted and stripped of their basic human rights.

    It is this discriminatory system of control of woman and girls in Afghanistan that is at the core of the court’s prosecution.

    The warrants also accuse the Taliban of persecuting

    other persons who don’t conform with the Taliban’s ideological expectations of gender, gender identity or expression; and on political grounds against persons perceived as ‘allies of girls and women.

    This is the first time an international tribunal or court has confirmed crimes against humanity involving LGBTQIA+ victims. This marks an important milestone in the protection of sexual minorities under international law.

    Crimes against humanity

    International law clearly spells put the offences which constitute crimes against humanity.

    The aim is to protect civilians from serious and widespread attacks on their fundamental rights. Different definitions of crimes against humanity have been included in the statutes of a handful of international tribunals and courts.

    The definition under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court is the most comprehensive. It includes severe deprivation of personal liberty, murder, enslavement, rape, torture, forced deportation or apartheid.

    Specifically, the Taliban leaders are accused under Article 7(1)(h) of the Rome Statute, which states:

    Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender […] or other grounds that are universally recognised as impermissible under international law.

    Physical and direct violence is not necessary for persecution on “gender […] grounds” to be established. Systemic and institutionalised forms of harm, which can be the imposition of discriminatory societal norms, are sufficient.

    Women and girls are often disproportionately affected by Taliban policies and rules. But proving gender-based crimes have occurred is not enough. Discriminatory intent must also be established.

    The Taliban has been open about its religious beliefs and interpretations, suggesting a clear intention to persecute on the grounds of gender.

    Not just symbolic

    As with other cases, the court relies on the cooperation of states to execute and surrender those accused.

    The interim government in Kabul which was formed after the US-led invasion in 2001 became a party to the Rome Statute in 2003. Afghanistan remains legally obligated to prosecute perpetrators of these crimes – it must accept the Court’s jurisdiction in the matter.

    The Purple Saturdays Movement, an Afghan women-led protest group, is warning the arrest warrants must be more than just symbolic. Any failure to prosecute would likely result in an escalation of human rights violations:

    The Taliban has historically responded to international pressure not with reform, but by intensifying such repressive policies.

    Hopeful step

    It is important to note the strict policies and widespread abuses targeting women and girls in Afghanistan are ongoing, despite the intervention by the International Criminal Court.

    The court’s Office of the Prosecutor is stressing its commitment to pursuing “effective legal pathways” to bring the Taliban leadership to account. The Afghan Women’s Movement in Exile wants an independent international judicial committee established to monitor and accelerate the legal process.

    It is not yet clear if the warrants will actually lead to arrest and prosecution in The Hague. But we know this is possible. A prime example being the the arrest earlier this year of former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

    At the very least, the arrests warrants are a hopeful step towards accountability for the Taliban and justice for the women and girls of Afghanistan.

    Yvonne Breitwieser-Faria 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. In a world first, The Hague wants to arrest Taliban leaders over their treatment of women – what happens next? – https://theconversation.com/in-a-world-first-the-hague-wants-to-arrest-taliban-leaders-over-their-treatment-of-women-what-happens-next-261008

    MIL OSI Analysis –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Hobart man charged with trafficking significant amount of ice and cocaine

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Hobart man charged with trafficking significant amount of ice and cocaine

    Monday, 21 July 2025 – 1:59 pm.

    Police have charged a 29-year-old Hobart man with trafficking and importing illicit drugs into Tasmania after intercepting a vehicle exiting the Spirit of Tasmania in Devonport on Sunday.
    In a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized three kilograms of ice, two kilograms of cocaine, two vials of testosterone, 30 capsules of steroids and 40 oxycodone tablets. 
    As a result, the man has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance, unlawful importation of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled drug, and dealing with property which subsequently becomes an instrument of crime.
    He has been detained to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court later today.
    Detective Inspector Michelle Elmer said the drugs seized were highly addictive and have the potential to do significant harm in our community.
    “The methylamphetamine seized has the potential to be broken into 30,000 individual street deals, while the cocaine could result in 10,000 individual deals,” she said.
    Tasmania Police will continue to target offenders who attempt to import illicit substances into Tasmania by conducting both targeted and random screenings of people entering our state by sea and airports. 
    Anyone with information about illicit substances in our community is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

    July 21, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Six arrested over lead found in kids’ meals

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

    Police in northwestern China have arrested six suspects after more than 200 children were found to have high levels of lead in their blood at a privately run kindergarten, authorities said.

    Seventeen officials have also been placed under disciplinary investigation, and 10 others, including senior health and education officials in Tianshui city and its Maiji district, Gansu province, face formal accountability procedures, according to a report released on Sunday.

    Investigators found the lead exposure came from food prepared at the Peixin Kindergarten, not from environmental contamination. Tests of air, water and soil in the area found no lead pollution.

    The arrests come after eight people were initially held for questioning earlier this month while investigations were ongoing. Among those detained were cooks, management and an investor at the kindergarten.

    On Sunday, officials revealed in a report that six had been arrested on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food.

    The case came to light on July 1, when market regulators and police in Maiji district received reports of abnormal blood lead levels among children at Peixin. All 251 children enrolled were examined, and 233 were found to have elevated lead levels. At least 201 children were hospitalized for treatment.

    The incident has sparked widespread concern due to the harmful effects of long-term lead exposure on children. The World Health Organization lists lead among the top 10 toxic substances of public health concern.

    A joint investigation team tested 232 samples, including raw materials, cooked food and water from Peixin. Authorities found that the kindergarten’s management had instructed staff to add brightly colored but inedible industrial pigments to foods such as corn rolls and jujube cakes (steamed buns), to make them look more appealing to children and parents.

    Two samples from Peixin — a tricolor red date sponge cake served at breakfast and a corn roll with sausage served at dinner — failed to meet food safety standards. The samples contained lead levels of 1,052 milligrams per kilogram and 1,340 milligrams per kilogram, respectively, far above the national limit of 0.5 milligram per kilogram.

    Authorities said the kindergarten was operating without a license and that local education and market supervision departments failed to carry out oversight. Some officials are suspected of accepting bribes and favors from the kindergarten’s investor. Disciplinary and criminal investigations have been launched against officials, including the head of the provincial health commission and the mayor of Tianshui.

    Health authorities said all affected children received treatment, with nearly all now discharged after their blood lead levels dropped by around 40 percent on average. The government is covering medical costs and has set up a monitoring program to track the children’s recovery.

    The Gansu provincial government issued a public apology, pledging “zero tolerance” for regulatory failures and promising to strengthen food safety and health oversight in schools across the province.

    MIL OSI China News –

    July 21, 2025
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