NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: Buffalo Man Going to Prison for Starting Fire on Railroad Tracks in Farnham

    Source: US FBI

    BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Michael B. Benitez, 34, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of attempt to wreck, derail, set fire to, or disable railroad on-track equipment, was sentenced to serve 27 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Benitez was also ordered to pay $1,382 in restitution to Norfolk Southern Railway.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that in the early morning hours of June 14, 2023, Benitez placed several tires on the railroad tracks behind his residence at the time on Railroad Avenue in Farnham, poured gasoline on the tires, and started the tires on fire. The tire fire destroyed equipment owned by Norfolk Southern that’s used to identify railroad equipment while enroute. Norfolk Southern was required to hold trains while the tire fire was extinguished, and rail equipment was repaired.

    The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Town of Brandt Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Slawek, and Norfolk Southern Police Department.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Related Gun Charge

    Source: US FBI

    BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Donta Williams, 30, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of imprisonment of life, and a fine of $250,000.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated on November 13, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at a Comstock Avenue residence, which Williams used for his drug trafficking activities. During the search, they seized $1,030 in cash, a receipt for a Rolex sold to “Donta Williams,” a Glock pistol and ammunition, jewelry, crack cocaine and fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia. Later that day, a second search warrant was executed on a UHAUL unit controlled by Williams. During that search, investigators seized $29,627.00 in cash, and a loaded magazine.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Alfonse Wright.

    Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2025, before Judge Arcara.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Methamphetamine

    Source: US FBI

    BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Mario Pittman Jr., 31, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to distribution of methamphetamine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that in March 2024, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Lackawanna Police began investigating Pittman’s drug trafficking activities. The investigation included five controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Pittman. On April 30, 2024, investigators attempted to stop Pittman’s vehicle, but he fled at a high rate of speed through a residential neighborhood. Law enforcement eventually made a forced stop of his vehicle. Pittman fled on foot but was apprehended by law enforcement. Investigators recovered a clear plastic baggy of suspected methamphetamine, which Pittman dropped on the ground as he attempted to flee.

    The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia.

    Sentencing is scheduled for October 9, 2025, before Judge Arcara.

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    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Bronx Feva Gang Members Charged with April 2022 Murder and Racketeering Offenses

    Source: US FBI

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Jessica S. Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging NASIA CARSON, a/k/a “Nas,” ELIJAH SANTIAGO, a/k/a “Eli,” and PHILIP MOSCA, a/k/a “90,” with participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving a Bronx-based gang known as “Feva” and committing multiple violent crimes in aid of racketeering, including the murder of a 21-year-old named Jesse Bynum on April 12, 2022.  CARSON and MOSCA were previously taken into custody on related charges, and SANTIAGO was arrested earlier today.  All three defendants are expected to be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero.

    U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “As alleged, these three defendants brutally murdered 21-year-old Jesse Bynum, and left three others seriously wounded.  New York families should not have to live in fear of gang-motivated violence.  The women and men of the Southern District and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding accountable those who terrorize our communities with gang-motivated violence.  We hope that commitment and the charges brought today bring some measure of comfort to the family of Jesse Bynum and others who have suffered needless losses from gang-motivated crimes.”

    FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “These three Feva gang members allegedly engaged in violence to retaliate against their rivals, including firing a gun into a crowded street and killing Jesse Bynum. The defendants’ alleged relentless attempts to fuel a feud with a rival cost the life of a bystander caught in the crosshairs. With our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains committed to protecting our city from unnecessary gun violence and murders.” 

    NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch said: “These three individuals allegedly carried out a cold-blooded shooting that killed a 21-year-old New Yorker and seriously injured three others. They showed no regard for human life, and their senseless act of violence has no place in our city. We are committed to identifying and dismantling the street gangs threatening the safety of our communities. I want to thank the NYPD investigators and our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their tireless work to bring them to justice.”

    As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

    From at least in or about 2022, through at least in or about 2023, CARSON, SANTIAGO, and MOSCA were members and associates of a criminal organization known as Feva that operated principally in the vicinity of the Pelham Parkway Houses and 2250 Wallace Avenue in the Bronx, New York.  Members and associates of Feva engaged in, among other activities, drug trafficking, acts involving murder, attempted murder, and assault.

    On or about April 12, 2022, CARSON, SANTIAGO, and MOSCA shot into a small crowd of people gathered on a street in an attempt to retaliate against a rival gang.  The shooting resulted in the murder of 21-year-old Bynum, and serious physical injury to three others.

    If you believe that you have additional information about this murder, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York at 1-866-874-8900 and reference this case.

    *               *                *

    A chart containing the names, ages, charges, and maximum penalties against the defendants is set forth below.

    The statutory maximum and minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. 

    Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

    This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department 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).

    The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ni Qian, Marguerite B. Colson, and Brandon D. Harper are in charge of the prosecution.

    The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

    COUNT

    CHARGE

    DEFENDANTS

    MAX. PENALTIES
    1

    Racketeering conspiracy

    18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)

    NASIA CARSON, a/k/a “Nas,” 21;

    ELIJAH SANTIAGO, a/k/a “Eli,” 22;

    PHILIP MOSACA, a/k/a “90,” 22;

    (“All Defendants”)

    		 Life in prison
    2

    Murder in aid of racketeering

    18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1) and 2

    		 All Defendants Death or mandatory sentence of life in prison
    3

    Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering

    18 U.S.C. § 1959(a)(5)

    		 All Defendants 10 years in prison
    4

    Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering

    18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3), (a)(5), and 2

    		 All Defendants 20 years in prison
    5

    Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence

    18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2

    		 All Defendants

    Life in prison

    Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
    6

    Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering

    18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3), (a)(5), and 2

    		 All Defendants 20 years in prison
    7

    Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence

    18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2

    		 All Defendants

    Life in prison

    Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
    8

    Assault with a dangerous weapon and assault in aid of racketeering

    18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(3), (a)(5), and 2

    		 All Defendants 20 years in prison
    9

    Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a crime of violence

    18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2

    		 All Defendants

    Life in prison

    Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison

    [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact descried therein should be treated as an allegation. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Law Library Publishes New Report on Regulation of IVF and Related Issues

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    The staff of the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress has recently completed a comparative report, Regulation of IVF and Related Issues. The report examines the rules regarding embryos created through artificial reproductive technology techniques, such as those involving in vitro fertilization (IVF), in the following countries: France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

    VITRO by Flickr user Tman. May 21, 2021. Used under NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic Deed CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

    Among issues addressed by the report are the legal limits on the number of embryos that can be created or transferred in a treatment cycle and the actions that can be taken with respect to the embryos created, apart from transfer to a person’s uterus as part of that cycle. Such actions include preimplantation genetic testing, sex selection for nonmedical purposes, cryopreservation and storage, donation to another person or couple, disposal or destruction, and allowing the embryos to be used for research purposes. The report further addresses countries’ requirements for facilities where IVF procedures are conducted, registries of procedures and donors, funding of procedures, and the existence of restrictions in access to IVF procedures for certain groups of patients and couples.

    The report consists of a comparative summary, individual country surveys, and a table providing information on the legal treatment of embryos created through IVF.

    We invite you to review the information provided in our report here.

    This report is an addition to the Law Library’s Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) collection, which includes over 4,000 historical and contemporary legal reports covering a variety of jurisdictions, researched and written by foreign law specialists with expertise in each area. A search for legal reports on human reproduction identifies a number of relevant entries.

    To receive alerts when new reports are published, you can subscribe to email updates and the RSS feed for Law Library Reports (click the “subscribe” button on the Law Library’s website).

    The Law Library also publishes articles related to assisted reproduction in the Global Legal Monitor.

    And finally, a search of our blog, In Custodia Legis, using the term “embryo” may lead you to posts on a variety of related topics.

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Judiciary Learning Center Opens in Boston

    Source: United States Courts

    “Through this center, we hope to put the truth of active liberty in action — by helping people of all ages and all backgrounds, whether steeped in legal knowledge or too young to have much of it — reflect on and learn about the Constitution and the Courts and how they relate to each other in our democracy,” said Chief Judge David J. Barron, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, who led the effort to establish the new center.

    The Breyer Learning Center is one of a growing number of civics education centers, museums, and exhibits in federal court buildings across the country. At the new learning center, students and adults can learn about the important role of the Judiciary in daily life. Educational materials include information and activities about the Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases, federal court basics, jury service, and careers in the federal court system.

    The 2,800-square-foot center, named in honor of retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, is in the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston. The learning center includes space for hosting workshops, training sessions, and seminars, in addition to the student-centered programs offered by Discovering Justice, a local nonprofit organization that brings students and communities together to examine the workings of the justice system. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Minuteman III test launch showcases readiness of US nuclear force’s safe, effective deterrent

    Source: United States Navy

    Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. — A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a single Mark-21 High Fidelity Re-Entry Vehicle May 21 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Alleged Securities Fraud at MediPharm Labs Says Apollo Capital

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Multiple Highly Credible Sources Reveal Disturbing Evidence of Alleged Systemic Violations of Securities Laws at MediPharm Labs; Immediate Regulatory Action Demanded

    Apollo Capital’s Six Director Nominees Are Committed to Restoring Transparency and Value to MediPharm’s Shareholders

    URGES SHAREHOLDERS TO VOTE THE GOLD PROXY CARD “FOR” APOLLO CAPITAL’S SIX DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND DISREGARD MEDIPHARM LABS’ GREEN PROXY CARD

    TORONTO, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo Technology Capital Corporation (“Apollo Capital”), which together with its affiliates and associates collectively is one of the largest shareholders of MediPharm Labs Corp. (TSX: LABS) (OTCQB: MEDIF) (FSE: MLZ) (“MediPharm”, “MediPharm Labs”, or the “Company”), owning approximately 3% of the Company’s common stock, today issued an urgent warning to shareholders, regulators, and the investing public concerning serious allegations of alleged extensive securities act disclosure violations committed by MediPharm Labs’ Board of Directors (the “Board”) and management team.

    Apollo Capital has received alarming reports from multiple highly credible and independent sources revealing that MediPharm Labs allegedly engaged in deliberate, systematic financial misfeasance and deceptive accounting practices aimed at grossly misleading investors and artificially inflating the Company’s reported revenues and stock valuation. Such allegations represent blatant violations of securities laws, fiduciary obligations, and ethical business conduct, potentially exposing MediPharm and its Board to serious legal and financial consequences.

    Given the grave seriousness and substantial credibility of these allegations, Apollo Capital urgently demands an immediate, robust investigation by regulatory authorities including the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Apollo Capital further insists that MediPharm’s Board of Directors immediately cooperate fully with all regulatory investigations, transparently disclose all related information, and suspend any management or Board members implicated in these serious allegations pending investigation outcomes.

    Apollo Capital has received credible information regarding these allegations directly from a current MediPharm Labs Board member, specifically implicating MediPharm’s Chairman, Chris Taves, Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets for Asia at BMO and a CPA, in orchestrating schemes to intentionally overstate Company revenues. It is curious that starting recently, Chris Taves serves as both the Board Chair and the Audit Committee Chair. Sources allege that MediPharm engaged partners in deceptive practices to artificially boost revenue reporting, misleading investors into perceiving growth where none truly existed.

    Apollo Capital demands to know if this is the reason that Michael Bumby just stepped down as Audit Committee Chair and has not stood for re-election to the MediPharm Board.

    “These allegations paint a profoundly troubling picture of calculated corporate conduct to overstate revenues and in turn mislead shareholders,” stated Apollo Capital. “Immediate transparency, accountability, and significant leadership changes are essential to restore credibility at MediPharm. The current Board and management owe shareholders an obligation to take immediate and decisive action to prevent further damage.”

    Apollo Capital directly challenges each MediPharm Board member—Shelley Potts, Michael Bumby, Chris Halyk, Chris Taves, Keith Strachan, and David Pidduck—to publicly address these allegations openly and transparently. Apollo Capital reiterates its repeated calls for full disclosure, particularly emphasized in its press release asking about these misfeasance allegations before MediPharm’s Q1 earnings call and its follow-up press release highlighting the Company’s disastrous financial performance and refusal to answer shareholder questions. Any Board member failing to acknowledge and publicly address these allegations will be perceived as complicit in the alleged misfeasance.

    In its news release prior to the Q1 earnings call, the first question that Apollo Capital urged MediPharm shareholders to ask the management team was:

    “These numbers aren’t even audited and MediPharm has been accused of misleading accounting practices in the past, including relating to revenue. Why should anyone believe anything that you say? Are you currently recognizing revenue the same way that you were two years ago? Please answer this question clearly without wordplay, subterfuge or material misrepresentations.”

    For the integrity of the capital markets, Apollo Capital demands that each board member of MediPharm Labs – Shelley Potts, Michael Bumby, Chris Halyk, Chris Taves, Keith Strachan, and David Pidduck – answer the question above.

    As a significant shareholder, Apollo Capital insists on a thorough audit to clarify how much of MediPharm’s claimed ‘profitability’, ‘revenue’, and ‘growth’ have been engineered though improper accounting.

    Apollo Capital remains committed to aggressively pursuing accountability, transparency, and the protection of shareholder interests, and will vigilantly monitor ongoing developments.

    MediPharm Labs Shareholders can visit www.CureMediPharm.com, to sign up for important campaign updates.

    VOTE THE GOLD PROXY CARD “FOR” APOLLO CAPITAL’S SIX DIRECTOR NOMINEES AND DISREGARD MEDIPHARM LABS’ GREEN PROXY CARD

    To access Apollo Capital’s Circular and related proxy materials, including a proxy or voting instruction form, visit SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

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

    For Media:
    CureMediPharm@gasthalter.com

    Legal Disclosures
    Information in Support of Public Broadcast Exemption under Canadian Law

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

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

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

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

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

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

    No member of Apollo Capital nor any of their associates or affiliates has or has had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the beginning of the Company’s last completed financial year or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or will or would materially affect the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates. No member of Apollo Capital nor any of their associates or affiliates has any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting, other than setting the number of directors, the election of directors, the appointment of auditors and the approval of the ordinary resolution approving, among other things, the Company’s amended and restated equity incentive plan dated May 8, 2025 and the unallocated awards available thereunder.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Traliant launches critical manager training to prevent discrimination missteps amid new Executive Orders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Traliant, a leader in online compliance training, announced new Discrimination Prevention for Managers training to help supervisors and managers navigate new discrimination issues that they are likely to encounter from the recent wave of Executive Orders.

    While the new Executive Orders do not change existing anti-discrimination law, with the combination of evolving Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Department of Justice (DOJ) guidance, they have reshaped workplace discrimination and elevated risks to organizations. Missteps by managers in areas like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, gender identity and religious accommodations can quickly escalate into costly legal claims, reputational damage or employee disengagement.

    Traliant’s Discrimination Prevention for Managers training clearly explains how the recent Executive Orders, EEOC and DOJ guidance impact anti-discrimination law – breaking down the emerging risks managers may not be aware of, clarifying legal gray areas and providing practical strategies for responding to sensitive issues with confidence and compliance.

    “Many managers don’t know what the recent executive orders actually change, where legal lines are drawn or how easily non-compliant actions can escalate,” said Elissa Rossi, Vice President of Compliance Services at Traliant and former Assistant Attorney General in New York. “This often leaves organizations, especially leaders within the organization, feeling confused and at risk. Without proper training, managers may inadvertently create liability by mishandling complaints, conversations or accommodations.”

    Through interactive, real-world scenarios, Traliant’s course helps learners:

    • Understand what recent Executive Orders change — and what they don’t
    • Know what legally qualifies as discrimination, including actions against members of majority groups
    • Know what steps to take if an employee raises a concern and how to report it
    • How to address sensitive employee questions around DEI, pronouns, religion and fairness

    For more information, visit http://www.traliant.com and follow us on LinkedIn. 

    About Traliant
    Traliant, a leader in compliance training, is on a mission to help make workplaces better, for everyone. Committed to a customer promise of “compliance you can trust, training you will love,” Traliant delivers continuously compliant online courses, backed by an unparalleled in-house legal team, with engaging, story-based training designed to create truly enjoyable learning experiences.

    Traliant supports over 14,000 organizations worldwide with a library of curated essential courses to broaden employee perspectives, achieve compliance and elevate workplace culture, including sexual harassment training, inclusion training, code of conduct training, and many more.

    Backed by PSG, a leading growth equity firm, Traliant holds a coveted position on Inc.’s 5000 fastest-growing private companies in America for four consecutive years, along with numerous awards for its products and workplace culture.

    Contact
    Reagan Bennet
    traliant@v2comms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University

    DEI has a long history. Nora Carol Photography via Getty Images

    Few issues in the U.S. today are as controversial as diversity, equity and inclusion – commonly referred to as DEI.

    Although the term didn’t come into common usage until the 21st century, DEI is best understood as the latest stage in a long American project. Its egalitarian principles are seen in America’s founding documents, and its roots lie in landmark 20th-century efforts such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act and affirmative action policies, as well as movements for racial justice, gender equity, disability rights, veterans and immigrants.

    These movements sought to expand who gets to participate in economic, educational and civic life. DEI programs, in many ways, are their legacy.

    Critics argue that DEI is antidemocratic, that it fosters ideological conformity and that it leads to discriminatory initiatives, which they say disadvantage white people and undermine meritocracy. Those defending DEI argue just the opposite: that it encourages critical thinking and promotes democracy − and that attacks on DEI amount to a retreat from long-standing civil rights law.

    Yet missing from much of the debate is a crucial question: What are the tangible costs and benefits of DEI? Who benefits, who doesn’t, and what are the broader effects on society and the economy?

    As a sociologist, I believe any productive conversation about DEI should be rooted in evidence, not ideology. So let’s look at the research.

    Who gains from DEI?

    In the corporate world, DEI initiatives are intended to promote diversity, and research consistently shows that diversity is good for business. Companies with more diverse teams tend to perform better across several key metrics, including revenue, profitability and worker satisfaction.

    Businesses with diverse workforces also have an edge in innovation, recruitment and competitiveness, research shows. The general trend holds for many types of diversity, including age, race and ethnicity, and gender.

    A focus on diversity can also offer profit opportunities for businesses seeking new markets. Two-thirds of American consumers consider diversity when making their shopping choices, a 2021 survey found. So-called “inclusive consumers” tend to be female, younger and more ethnically and racially diverse. Ignoring their values can be costly: When Target backed away from its DEI efforts, the resulting backlash contributed to a sales decline.

    But DEI goes beyond corporate policy. At its core, it’s about expanding access to opportunities for groups historically excluded from full participation in American life. From this broader perspective, many 20th-century reforms can be seen as part of the DEI arc.

    Consider higher education. Many elite U.S. universities refused to admit women until well into the 1960s and 1970s. Columbia, the last Ivy League university to go co-ed, started admitting women in 1982. Since the advent of affirmative action, women haven’t just closed the gender gap in higher education – they outpace men in college completion across all racial groups. DEI policies have particularly benefited women, especially white women, by expanding workforce access.

    Many Ivy League universities didn’t admit women until surprisingly recently.

    Similarly, the push to desegregate American universities was followed by an explosion in the number of Black college students – a number that has increased by 125% since the 1970s, twice the national rate. With college gates open to more people than ever, overall enrollment at U.S. colleges has quadrupled since 1965. While there are many reasons for this, expanding opportunity no doubt plays a role. And a better-educated population has had significant implications for productivity and economic growth.

    The 1965 Immigration Act also exemplifies DEI’s impact. It abolished racial and national quotas, enabling the immigration of more diverse populations, including from Asia, Africa, southern and eastern Europe and Latin America. Many of these immigrants were highly educated, and their presence has boosted U.S. productivity and innovation.

    Ultimately, the U.S. economy is more profitable and productive as a result of immigrants.

    What does DEI cost?

    While DEI generates returns for many businesses and institutions, it does come with costs. In 2020, corporate America spent an estimated US$7.5 billion on DEI programs. And in 2023, the federal government spent more than $100 million on DEI, including $38.7 million by the Department of Health and Human Services and another $86.5 million by the Department of Defense.

    The government will no doubt be spending less on DEI in 2025. One of President Donald Trump’s first acts in his second term was to sign an executive order banning DEI practices in federal agencies – one of several anti-DEI executive orders currently facing legal challenges. More than 30 states have also introduced or enacted bills to limit or entirely restrict DEI in recent years. Central to many of these policies is the belief that diversity lowers standards, replacing meritocracy with mediocrity.

    But a large body of research disputes this claim. For example, a 2023 McKinsey & Company report found that companies with higher levels of gender and ethnic diversity will likely financially outperform those with the least diversity by at least 39%. Similarly, concerns that DEI in science and technology education leads to lowering standards aren’t backed up by scholarship. Instead, scholars are increasingly pointing out that disparities in performance are linked to built-in biases in courses themselves.

    That said, legal concerns about DEI are rising. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Justice have recently warned employers that some DEI programs may violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Anecdotal evidence suggests that reverse discrimination claims, particularly from white men, are increasing, and legal experts expect the Supreme Court to lower the burden of proof needed by complainants for such cases.

    The issue remains legally unsettled. But while the cases work their way through the courts, women and people of color will continue to shoulder much of the unpaid volunteer work that powers corporate DEI initiatives. This pattern raises important equity concerns within DEI itself.

    What lies ahead for DEI?

    People’s fears of DEI are partly rooted in demographic anxiety. Since the U.S. Census Bureau projected in 2008 that non-Hispanic white people would become a minority in the U.S by the year 2042, nationwide news coverage has amplified white fears of displacement.

    Research indicates many white men experience this change as a crisis of identity and masculinity, particularly amid economic shifts such as the decline of blue-collar work. This perception aligns with research showing that white Americans are more likely to believe DEI policies disadvantage white men than white women.

    At the same time, in spite of DEI initiatives, women and people of color are most likely to be underemployed and living in poverty regardless of how much education they attain. The gender wage gap remains stark: In 2023, women working full time earned a median weekly salary of $1,005 compared with $1,202 for men − just 83.6% of what men earned. Over a 40-year career, that adds up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost earnings. For Black and Latina women, the disparities are even worse, with one source estimating lifetime losses at $976,800 and $1.2 million, respectively.

    Racism, too, carries an economic toll. A 2020 analysis from Citi found that systemic racism has cost the U.S. economy $16 trillion since 2000. The same analysis found that addressing these disparities could have boosted Black wages by $2.7 trillion, added up to $113 billion in lifetime earnings through higher college enrollment, and generated $13 trillion in business revenue, creating 6.1 million jobs annually.

    In a moment of backlash and uncertainty, I believe DEI remains a vital if imperfect tool in the American experiment of inclusion. Rather than abandon it, the challenge now, from my perspective, is how to refine it: grounding efforts not in slogans or fear, but in fairness and evidence.

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

    – ref. Beyond the backlash: What evidence shows about the economic impact of DEI – https://theconversation.com/beyond-the-backlash-what-evidence-shows-about-the-economic-impact-of-dei-252143

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Weaponized storytelling: How AI is helping researchers sniff out disinformation campaigns

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mark Finlayson, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Florida International University

    The human proclivity for storytelling makes disinformation difficult to combat. Westend61 via Getty Images

    It is not often that cold, hard facts determine what people care most about and what they believe. Instead, it is the power and familiarity of a well-told story that reigns supreme. Whether it’s a heartfelt anecdote, a personal testimony or a meme echoing familiar cultural narratives, stories tend to stick with us, move us and shape our beliefs.

    This characteristic of storytelling is precisely what can make it so dangerous when wielded by the wrong hands. For decades, foreign adversaries have used narrative tactics in efforts to manipulate public opinion in the United States. Social media platforms have brought new complexity and amplification to these campaigns. The phenomenon garnered ample public scrutiny after evidence emerged of Russian entities exerting influence over election-related material on Facebook in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

    While artificial intelligence is exacerbating the problem, it is at the same time becoming one of the most powerful defenses against such manipulations. Researchers have been using machine learning techniques to analyze disinformation content.

    At the Cognition, Narrative and Culture Lab at Florida International University, we are building AI tools to help detect disinformation campaigns that employ tools of narrative persuasion. We are training AI to go beyond surface-level language analysis to understand narrative structures, trace personas and timelines and decode cultural references.

    Disinformation vs. misinformation

    In July 2024, the Department of Justice disrupted a Kremlin-backed operation that used nearly a thousand fake social media accounts to spread false narratives. These weren’t isolated incidents. They were part of an organized campaign, powered in part by AI.

    Disinformation differs crucially from misinformation. While misinformation is simply false or inaccurate information – getting facts wrong – disinformation is intentionally fabricated and shared specifically to mislead and manipulate. A recent illustration of this came in October 2024, when a video purporting to show a Pennsylvania election worker tearing up mail-in ballots marked for Donald Trump swept platforms such as X and Facebook.

    Within days, the FBI traced the clip to a Russian influence outfit, but not before it racked up millions of views. This example vividly demonstrates how foreign influence campaigns artificially manufacture and amplify fabricated stories to manipulate U.S. politics and stoke divisions among Americans.

    Humans are wired to process the world through stories. From childhood, we grow up hearing stories, telling them and using them to make sense of complex information. Narratives don’t just help people remember – they help us feel. They foster emotional connections and shape our interpretations of social and political events.

    Stories have profound effects on human beliefs and behavior.

    This makes them especially powerful tools for persuasion – and, consequently, for spreading disinformation. A compelling narrative can override skepticism and sway opinion more effectively than a flood of statistics. For example, a story about rescuing a sea turtle with a plastic straw in its nose often does more to raise concern about plastic pollution than volumes of environmental data.

    Usernames, cultural context and narrative time

    Using AI tools to piece together a picture of the narrator of a story, the timeline for how they tell it and cultural details specific to where the story takes place can help identify when a story doesn’t add up.

    Narratives are not confined to the content users share – they also extend to the personas users construct to tell them. Even a social media handle can carry persuasive signals. We have developed a system that analyzes usernames to infer demographic and identity traits such as name, gender, location, sentiment and even personality, when such cues are embedded in the handle. This work, presented in 2024 at the International Conference on Web and Social Media, highlights how even a brief string of characters can signal how users want to be perceived by their audience.

    For example, a user attempting to appear as a credible journalist might choose a handle like @JamesBurnsNYT rather than something more casual like @JimB_NYC. Both may suggest a male user from New York, but one carries the weight of institutional credibility. Disinformation campaigns often exploit these perceptions by crafting handles that mimic authentic voices or affiliations.

    Although a handle alone cannot confirm whether an account is genuine, it plays an important role in assessing overall authenticity. By interpreting usernames as part of the broader narrative an account presents, AI systems can better evaluate whether an identity is manufactured to gain trust, blend into a target community or amplify persuasive content. This kind of semantic interpretation contributes to a more holistic approach to disinformation detection – one that considers not just what is said but who appears to be saying it and why.

    Also, stories don’t always unfold chronologically. A social media thread might open with a shocking event, flash back to earlier moments and skip over key details in between.

    Humans handle this effortlessly – we’re used to fragmented storytelling. But for AI, determining a sequence of events based on a narrative account remains a major challenge.

    Our lab is also developing methods for timeline extraction, teaching AI to identify events, understand their sequence and map how they relate to one another, even when a story is told in nonlinear fashion.

    Objects and symbols often carry different meanings in different cultures, and without cultural awareness, AI systems risk misinterpreting the narratives they analyze. Foreign adversaries can exploit cultural nuances to craft messages that resonate more deeply with specific audiences, enhancing the persuasive power of disinformation.

    Consider the following sentence: “The woman in the white dress was filled with joy.” In a Western context, the phrase evokes a happy image. But in parts of Asia, where white symbolizes mourning or death, it could feel unsettling or even offensive.

    In order to use AI to detect disinformation that weaponizes symbols, sentiments and storytelling within targeted communities, it’s critical to give AI this sort of cultural literacy. In our research, we’ve found that training AI on diverse cultural narratives improves its sensitivity to such distinctions.

    Who benefits from narrative-aware AI?

    Narrative-aware AI tools can help intelligence analysts quickly identify orchestrated influence campaigns or emotionally charged storylines that are spreading unusually fast. They might use AI tools to process large volumes of social media posts in order to map persuasive narrative arcs, identify near-identical storylines and flag coordinated timing of social media activity. Intelligence services could then use countermeasures in real time.

    In addition, crisis-response agencies could swiftly identify harmful narratives, such as false emergency claims during natural disasters. Social media platforms could use these tools to efficiently route high-risk content for human review without unnecessary censorship. Researchers and educators could also benefit by tracking how a story evolves across communities, making narrative analysis more rigorous and shareable.

    Ordinary users can also benefit from these technologies. The AI tools could flag social media posts in real time as possible disinformation, allowing readers to be skeptical of suspect stories, thus counteracting falsehoods before they take root.

    As AI takes on a greater role in monitoring and interpreting online content, its ability to understand storytelling beyond just traditional semantic analysis has become essential. To this end, we are building systems to uncover hidden patterns, decode cultural signals and trace narrative timelines to reveal how disinformation takes hold.

    Mark Finlayson receives funding from US Department of Defense and the US National Science Foundation for his work on narrative understanding and influence operations in the military context.

    Azwad Anjum Islam receives funding from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

    – ref. Weaponized storytelling: How AI is helping researchers sniff out disinformation campaigns – https://theconversation.com/weaponized-storytelling-how-ai-is-helping-researchers-sniff-out-disinformation-campaigns-251349

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Travels to Malaysia

    Source: United States Navy

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Malaysia on May 28- 29, 2025, where he met with senior military and government officials, underscoring Malaysia’s importance to the U.S. as a partner and the U.S. commitment to Malaysia and the region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In 2025, more than 2,100 budget places will be available at NSU at all levels of training

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Today, TASS hosted a press conference dedicated to the specifics of the upcoming admissions campaign to universities in the Siberian Federal District. The event was attended by representatives of leading universities in Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk and Gorno-Altaisk. NSU was represented by Alexander Trusevich, Head of the Department for Work with Applicants.

    — Last year, more than 8,000 applicants showed interest in entering the university, in terms of the number of applications, this is, of course, several times more. We hope that this year the number will be even greater. As a rule, 2/3 of the total number of those enrolled are those who were enrolled in budget places, and the rest are paid admission. The interest and popularity of NSU is increasing among applicants based on the results of prestigious Olympiads — this is the All-Russian School Olympiad, these are the list Olympiads. Last year, the number of enrolled applicants with such results increased by almost 20%, — noted Alexander.

    In 2025, 2108 budget and 1363 fee-paying places will be available at NSU at all levels of training. In general, the number of places remains at the level of previous years.

    — This year, NSU will have a new category of places for the first time — places financed by industrial partners. Education in these places will be completely free for applicants, with the possibility of receiving a scholarship at the expense of industrial partners, — added Alexander.

    Among the main innovations that await applicants this year:

    — the most noticeable change compared to last year is the abolition of the requirement to provide the original educational document as a prerequisite for enrollment; instead of the original educational document, applicants must submit an application for consent to enrollment;

    — for the first time this year, applicants for master’s and postgraduate programs will be able to use the super service “Online University Admission” and submit documents using the “Gosuslugi” portal; this will expand the geography of applicants;

    — starting with this admissions campaign, universities must designate the maximum number of fee-paying places, which cannot be increased during the admissions campaign;

    — amendments were recently made to the Federal Law on Education, which will allow children of participants in military operations on the territory of the Russian Federation to enroll in places under a separate quota;

    — starting this year, a new type of individual achievements has been introduced for applicants to target quota places — targeted individual achievements; the maximum score that an applicant can receive is 5 points.

    This year, the university will introduce a number of new educational programs that train interdisciplinary specialists and cover promising areas. Among them are the specialty “Medical Cybernetics” and the master’s program “Industrial Pharmacy”. New educational programs are being implemented jointly with the MSU Engineering School, and large companies “Pharmstandard” and “Generium” are industrial partners. New educational programs will be developed on the basis of the infrastructure of the educational and scientific center of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies, which is part of the modern NSU campus, built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”.

    Also starting this year, NSU is opening admission to the bachelor’s degree program “Applied Artificial Intelligence”. This program won the federal grant competition for training top specialists in the field of artificial intelligence. The pilot recruitment will consist of 150 students. The program will be implemented with the active participation of industrial partners – Rostelecom and Innotech (T1). Grant support will allow students to study for free and receive scholarships from industrial partners.

    On Faculty of Physics a new Master’s program “Applied Mathematics and Physics” will be implemented. Within its framework, training will be conducted in three profiles – “Space and Special Instrumentation”, “Medical Physics” and “Information Processes and Systems”.

    If we talk about the most popular areas, then the biggest competition is for those with a small number of budget places, for example: linguistics; business informatics; jurisprudence. The competition for them reaches 50 people per place.

    According to the results of the 2024 admissions campaign, the following can be distinguished among the most popular areas of natural science and engineering:

    — Applied Mathematics and Physics — 33.6 people per place (14 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Computer science and engineering — 27.3 people per place (185 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Physics. Physical informatics — 14.6 people per place (28 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Mechatronics and robotics — 13.8 people per place (70 people enrolled on a budgetary basis);

    — Chemistry — 9.9 people per place (65 people enrolled on a budget basis).

    — The interest in NSU from applicants coming from other regions is growing. Thus, last year, out of 2,000 people admitted to bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs, almost 50% were not from the Novosibirsk Region. Moreover, applicants come not only from neighboring regions, but also from the central part of Russia: from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Kaliningrad, Samara and other cities, — Alexander emphasized.

    The university is increasing the number of foreign students, primarily interested in medical, natural science and engineering research areas. Many applicants are from the CIS – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Among the far abroad countries, the top countries include China, Turkey, Iran and Iraq. This year, a joint educational program for a bachelor’s degree in physics will open with Chongqing University, 60 Chinese students will be accepted.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Travels to Malaysia

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Malaysia on May 28-
    29, 2025, where he met with senior military and government officials, underscoring Malaysia’s importance to the U.S. as a
    partner and the U.S. commitment to Malaysia and the region.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Radical legal step towards ending impunity for Israel over killing Gaza journalists

    Pacific Media Watch

    Journalists have been targeted, detained and tortured by the Israeli military in Gaza — and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has now taken a new approach towards bringing justice these crimes.

    The Paris-based global media freedom NGO has submitted multiple formal requests to the International Criminal Court (ICC) asking that Palestinian journalists who are victims of Israeli war crimes in Gaza be allowed to participate as such in international judicial proceedings.

    If granted this status, these journalists would be able to present the ICC with the direct and personal harm they have suffered at the hands of Israeli forces, reports RSF.

    RSF has filed four complaints with the ICC concerning war crimes committed against journalists in Gaza and recently joined director Sepideh Farsi at the Cannes Film Festival to pay tribute to Fatma Hassoun, a photojournalist killed by the Israeli army after it was revealed she was featured in the documentary film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk.

    After filing the four complaints with the ICC concerning war crimes committed against journalists in Gaza since October 2023, RSF is resolutely continuing its efforts to bring the issue before international justice.

    The NGO has submitted several victim participation forms to the ICC so that Gazan journalists can participate in the legal process as recognised victims, not just as witnesses.

    Being officially recognised as victims is a first step toward justice, truth, and reparations — and it is an essential step toward protecting press freedom and journalistic integrity in conflict zones.

    Nearly 200 journalists killed
    Since October 2023, Israeli armed forces have killed nearly 200 journalists in Gaza — the Gaza Media Office says more than 215 journalists have been killed — at least 44 of whom were targeted because of their work, according to RSF data.

    Not only are foreign journalists barred from entering the blockaded Palestinian territory, but local reporters have watched their homes and newsrooms be destroyed by Israeli airstrikes and have been constantly displaced amid a devastating humanitarian crisis.

    “The right of victims to participate in the ICC investigation is a crucial mechanism that will finally allow for the recognition of the immense harm suffered by Palestinian journalists working in Gaza, who are the target of an unprecedented and systematic crackdown,” said Clémence Witt, a lawyer at the Paris and Barcelona Bars, and Jeanne Sulzer, a lawyer at the Paris Bar and member of the ICC’s list of counsel.

    Jonathan Dagher, head of the RSF Middle East desk, said: “It is time for justice for Gaza’s journalists to be served. The Israeli army’s ongoing crimes against them must end.

    “RSF will tirelessly continue demanding justice and reparations. This new process in the ICC investigation is an integral part of this combat, and allowing journalists to participate as victims is essential to moving forward.

    “They should be able to testify to the extreme violence targeting Gaza’s press. This is a new step toward holding the Israeli military and its leaders accountable for the crimes committed with impunity on Palestinian territory.”

    Pacific Media Watch collaborates with RSF.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Relief for residents as court action helps turn the tide on anti-social behaviour

    Source: City of Leeds

    Partial closure orders covering five blocks of flats near Hunslet Moor Park were granted to Leeds City Council by magistrates earlier this year following an investigation by West Yorkshire Police into local drug dealing activity.

    The terms of the three-month orders meant it temporarily became an arrestable offence for unauthorised visitors to the flats to be present in communal spaces such as foyers, landings, stairwells and lifts.

    This, it was hoped, would act as a deterrent to people who – by gaining entry to the buildings for the purpose of buying or selling drugs – had left many residents feeling distressed and intimidated.

    It was also hoped that the threat of arrest would put a stop to youths hanging around the flats – despite living elsewhere – and making a general nuisance of themselves.

    The restrictions covered the Crescent Grange and Crescent Towers high-rises as well as three low-rise blocks on nearby Moor Crescent Chase, off Dewsbury Road.

    And their introduction had the desired effect, with residents saying the flats subsequently became safer and more pleasant places to live.

    Should the situation there begin to worsen again, the council has the option of going back to court to seek a new set of partial closure orders.

    The impact of the investigation – carried out by the police’s Team Leodis unit – was not limited to the flats alone.

    Full closure orders were secured for six residential addresses in the wider Dewsbury Road area that were identified as hotspots for anti-social behaviour.

    A number of cases were also found where criminals had attempted to exploit vulnerable members of the community, including people who had recently overcome addiction issues or had been rehoused after a period of homelessness.

    Some of these cases involved a practice known as ‘cuckooing’, where a person’s home is taken over – often by force, coercion or deceit – and used as a base for storing, supplying or producing drugs as well as other unlawful activity.

    Referrals were made – both within the council and to appropriate external agencies – to ensure that the victims identified during the investigation have the support they need to get their lives back on track.

    And, in cases where people had been targeted in their own homes, partial closure restrictions – like the ones put in place at Crescent Grange, Crescent Towers and Moor Crescent Chase – were used as a way of deterring unwanted visitors.

    In addition, criminal behaviour orders (CBOs) were imposed on three individuals following an application to the courts by Team Leodis.

    The exact conditions of the CBOs vary from person to person, but for one of the three they included a five-year ban on entering any part of Beeston.

    A breach of a CBO is a criminal offence that can lead to a custodial sentence of up to five years for adults or up to two years for those aged under 18.

    Team Leodis’s work covered the stretch of Dewsbury Road that runs from the M621 flyover down to Beeston’s Cross Flatts Park, although its primary focus was the area around Crescent Grange, Crescent Towers and Moor Crescent Chase.

    An overwhelming majority of the residents in the flats who were contacted during a recent police survey said there had been a reduction in anti-social behaviour following the introduction of the partial closure restrictions.

    Responding to the survey, one person living in Crescent Towers said: “I haven’t seen anyone hanging around at all and haven’t seen people following anyone in.”

    Another resident in Crescent Towers said: “Things seem to be better. Thank you for doing what you are doing and trying to make it better for us all.”

    One resident on Moor Crescent Chase, meanwhile, said: “Things have calmed down a lot, there are very few people hanging round.”

    Part-funded by the council’s housing service, Team Leodis primarily comprises police officers with expert knowledge of how court orders and injunctions can be used to stop crime and anti-social behaviour.

    They focus on one part of the city at a time while tackling problems that are causing concern for council tenants, with support from housing, legal and other council staff as well as officers from local Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

    Their work has previously achieved successful results in areas such as Holbeck, Holt Park, Seacroft and Little London.

    Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, said:

    “We want every single part of Leeds to be a place where people feel safe and secure, both at home and while they are going about their daily business.

    “It’s really pleasing, therefore, to see the positive impact that Team Leodis’s latest deployment has had on these flats as well as the surrounding areas.

    “The results show what can be achieved by a refusal to tolerate any sort of crime or anti-social behaviour and also underline the value of partnership working, in this case between the council and West Yorkshire Police.

    “My thanks go to everyone involved with Team Leodis for their expertise, their tenacity and, above all, the difference they continue to make to communities across the city.”

    Sergeant Edel Fox, from West Yorkshire Police’s Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team, said:

    “This operation saw multiple police departments working closely with the council and other partners in the community, and has delivered significant results in the ongoing fight against crime.  

    “This marks a strong step forward in our collective mission to bring offenders to justice and restore safety and confidence in the local area. But I want to stress that the work doesn’t end here. We remain in the area continuing this vital work in the Dewsbury Road area. 

    “I would urge people to continue to report any issues so action can be taken. You can also sign up to West Yorkshire Police Community Alert to receive updates about what’s going on in your area as well as crime prevention advice.”  

    Anyone with concerns about anti-social behaviour in their community can make a report via the council’s website or by calling 0113 222 4402.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Invest Hong Kong promotes Hong Kong’s business advantages in Beijing and Tianjin (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Invest Hong Kong promotes Hong Kong’s business advantages in Beijing and Tianjin
         During her visit, Ms Lee met with numerous companies to understand their overseas strategies, while promoting Hong Kong business opportunities. She highlighted Hong Kong’s unique role as a “super connector” between the Mainland and global markets under the “one country, two systems” framework. She will also follow up with Beijing-based companies that recently joined the Business Delegation led by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to the Middle East.
        
         In Beijing and Tianjin, InvestHK held thematic discussions with organisations such as the China Alcoholic Drinks Association to showcase the immense opportunities for liquor businesses following Hong Kong’s reduction in liquor duty. InvestHK also co-organised a series of promotional activities with industry associations, including policy exchange sessions and seminars on global expansion for F&B enterprises.
     
         InvestHK yesterday (May 28) hosted a thematic roundtable event in Beijing with F&B industry representatives to exchange views on overseas expansion and Hong Kong’s investment policies. Ms Lee explained that Hong Kong serves as a vital bridge between the Mainland and international markets, offering unparalleled business advantages for Mainland enterprises to expand overseas.
     
         “As a world-renowned culinary capital, Hong Kong is an ideal testing ground for F&B brands aiming to internationalise,” said Ms Lee. “The city’s diverse consumer base enables brands to validate product acceptance across cultures. With a robust influx of international visitors, brands can also benefit from strong word-of-mouth marketing. Hong Kong’s mature F&B ecosystem provides an ideal platform for innovation, while local talent with international prospective and global experience offers a solid foundation for international expansion,” she said.
     
         The Head of Tourism and Hospitality at InvestHK, Ms Sindy Wong, gave a detailed overview of Hong Kong’s F&B market advantages and how the city can support Mainland enterprises in scaling their overseas presence. The Associate Director of the Office of the HKSAR Government in Beijing (Beijing Office) , Ms Eunice Chan, delivered  welcome remarks at the event.
     
         InvestHK today (May 29) visited Tianjin to engage with major local wine companies to promote Hong Kong’s latest policies on the alcohol industry. A seminar entitled Leveraging Hong Kong’s Advantages to Support Tianjin F&B Enterprises Going Global was held, co-organised by Hong Kong Bauhinia College and the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, and supported by the Tianjin Liaison Unit of the HKSAR Government, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, and the Tianjin Federation of Industry and Commerce.
     
         In her welcome remarks, Ms Lee said, “Tianjin and Hong Kong have long enjoyed close economic and trade ties. Hong Kong is Tianjin’s largest source of foreign investment and a vital platform for local enterprises to go global. With its unique advantages of having the staunch support of the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world, Hong Kong’s thriving culinary economy presents opportunities for Mainland brands to grow their brand influence. Tianjin enterprises can leverage Hong Kong’s open and internationalised environment to accelerate their global expansion. “She highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a vital international gateway, capable of helping Tianjin culinary brands set sail for overseas markets and expand their global presence.
     
         Ms Wong shared an in-depth analysis of Hong Kong’s market environment, along with practical case studies, and the HKSAR Government’s latest policies to attract businesses, encouraging them to utilise the Hong Kong platform for outbound investment.
     
         The Chairman of the Tianjin General Chamber of Commerce, Ms Han Xiuyun, delivered welcome remarks, pledging to deepen economic, trade, and investment co-operation, particularly in the catering sector, between Tianjin and Hong Kong, enabling enterprises from both places to capitalise on their respective strengths for mutual development.
     
         During the professional services sharing session, Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Beijing Yingke (Hangzhou) Law Firm and Director of Yingke Global Catering Enterprise (outbound investment) Service Center, Mr Chen Shaojun, and the Chief Immigration Officer of the Beijing Office, Mr Xarier Wong, delivered keynote speeches on Hong Kong’s professional services and talent schemes to attendees. Vice President of Xiabu Xiabu Group, Ms Zhang Yanmei, shared experiences on the company’s business set-up and growth in Hong Kong, encouraging catering businesses to stronglyconsider Hong Kong’s platform for brand internationalisation.
     
         The seminar also featured a Q&A session for enterprises interested in setting up in Hong Kong. Hong Kong representatives addressed their queries in detail. The event attracted more than 80 representatives from Tianjin businesses, institutions, and media.
     
         For photos of the seminar, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326484438Issued at HKT 18:42

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: North Antrim MP backs criticism of Policing Board on “Sean” allegations

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    TUV leader Jim Allister said:

    “I welcome Jon Burrows’ forthright and necessary intervention regarding the Policing Board’s handling of the now-discredited allegations made by “Sean” against the PSNI’s Tactical Support Group.

    “Mr Burrows has spoken for many who have been left voiceless throughout this manufactured saga. The Policing Board, by way of contrast, has shown itself to be unfit for purpose.

    “The Board’s handling of this matter has been marked by inaction and a disturbing lack of curiosity. At a time when the reputations of serving officers were being publicly traduced, the body charged with holding the police to account simply looked the other way. The Justice Minister was no better. It is a matter of deep concern that it was left to former officers, not those in oversight roles, to defend their colleagues and expose the truth.

    “While “Sean” has now admitted to fabricating his claims, and while the Chief Constable has confirmed there was no sectarianism within the unit, the damage was done — and the silence from key voices on the Board was deafening. That was a dereliction of duty.

    “Only one elected representative – Alan Chambers – challenged the narrative we all now know to be false publicly on the Board. Others – particularly elected representatives from larger parties – must ask themselves why they remained silent while police officers were smeared.

    “The Policing Board must be held to account for its role in allowing a false narrative to gain traction, unchecked and unchallenged. Jon Burrows has provided a vital public service in demanding answers which should have been sought by the Board and indeed Minister Long.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic arrangements for Tuen Ng Festival

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Police will implement special traffic arrangements in various districts from May 30 to 31 to facilitate public viewing of the dragon boat races and to ensure smooth vehicular traffic movement and pedestrian safety.  

    Southern District
    —————— The public car park near the refuse collection point on Stanley Beach Road.- Four metered parking spaces on Island Road opposite to the Deep Water Bay Golf Course;
    – Sixteen metered parking spaces on Island Road near the Deep Water Bay Beach barbecue site; and
    – All motorcycle parking spaces on Island Road.——-
     
         The cycling track along the northern riverside of Shing Mun River Channel outside Yuen Wo Tennis Court will be closed from 2pm on May 30 to 3pm on May 31.——

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic arrangements for football match at Hong Kong Stadium

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Police will implement special traffic arrangements in So Kon Po and Causeway Bay to facilitate a football match to be held at the Hong Kong Stadium on May 30 (Friday).

    A. Traffic arrangements at the commencement of the event——————- Part of the traffic lane of Caroline Hill Road between Eastern Hospital Road and Cotton Path;
    – Westbound Hysan Avenue between Yun Ping Road and Hoi Ping Road;
    – Stadium Path; and
    – Lee Garden Road between Lan Fong Road and Hysan Avenue, except for green minibuses (GMBs).
     
    Traffic diversions
    ———————– Eastern Hospital Road between Stadium Path and Tung Lo Wan Road will be re-routed one way northbound;
    – Two lanes on Caroline Hill Road between its western junction with Leighton Road and Link Road will be designated for traffic entering Caroline Hill Road from Hoi Ping Road;
    – Hysan Avenue between Leighton Road and Hoi Ping Road will be re-routed one way eastbound;
    – Two lanes on eastbound Hysan Avenue will be designated for traffic turning right to Hoi Ping Road;
    – Vehicles leaving the private driveway of Lee Garden One must turn left to eastbound Hysan Avenue;
    – Traffic along Yun Ping Road cannot turn left to westbound Hysan Avenue, and vehicles will be diverted to Lan Fong Road and Pak Sha Road;
    – If necessary, traffic along northbound Link Road downhill to northbound Caroline Hill Road must turn left to westbound Leighton Road; and
    – If necessary, traffic along Lan Fong Road cannot turn left to southbound Lee Garden Road, and vehicles will be diverted to northbound Lee Garden Road, Foo Ming Street and southbound Percival Street, except for GMBs.———————————————- Northern kerbside of Cotton Path; and
    – Southern kerbside (taxi drop-off zone) and northern kerbside (private car drop-off zone) of Eastern Hospital Road near the main entrance of Hong Kong Stadium. 
         Depending on the crowd and traffic conditions, the following special arrangements will be implemented from about 9.30pm:——————- Eastern Hospital Road between Caroline Hill Road and Cotton Path;
    – Hoi Ping Road;
    – Sunning Road, except for vehicles exit from Lee Garden Three Car Park;
    – If necessary, Cotton Path;
    – If necessary, Leighton Road; and
    – If necessary, northbound Link Road (downhill), except for vehicles heading for No. 1, 3, 5 and 7 on Link Road.———————– Before the end of the event, vehicles may be permitted to exit buildings on Eastern Hospital Road by turning right to northbound Eastern Hospital Road;
    – Traffic along westbound Leighton Road cannot enter Caroline Hill Road for Link Road, and vehicles will be diverted via Wong Nai Chung Road and Broadwood Road; and
    – When Leighton Road is closed, traffic along westbound Causeway Road will be diverted via Irving Street; traffic along eastbound Morrison Hill Road will be diverted via Canal Road West; traffic along southbound Percival Street must turn right to westbound Leighton Road; and traffic along southbound Canal Road East cannot turn left to Leighton Road.————————————— 
    – Westbound Leighton Road;
    – Percival Street south of Hennessy Road;
    – Caroline Hill Road;
    – Link Road;
    – Stadium Path;
    – Cotton Path; and
    – Eastern Hospital Road.—————————————
     
         All on-street parking spaces on the following roads will be suspended from 5pm to 11pm:- Northbound Caroline Hill Road between Stadium Path and Cotton Path;
    – Hoi Ping Road;
    – Sunning Road; and
    – Eastern Hospital Road.———————————————————–

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips in advance for Tuen Ng Festival long weekend of Mainland

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information and appeals to public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips in advance for Tuen Ng Festival long weekend of Mainland      It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus, may be longer. Passengers should make their journeys during non-peak hours, observe order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers of cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.

         Motorists are advised that, subject to actual traffic conditions, special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Port from May 31 to June 2 to allow smooth access of public transport vehicles to the above control points. Cross-boundary private cars may need to queue up for crossing the BCPs. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.Issued at HKT 16:22

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Tuen Ng Festival long weekend of the Mainland

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements releases latest information on cross-boundary passenger traffic estimation and arrangements for Tuen Ng Festival long weekend of the Mainland 
         During the upcoming Tuen Ng Festival long weekend of the Mainland (May 31 to June 2), the Immigration Department (ImmD) estimates that around 3.2 million passengers (including Hong Kong residents and visitors) will pass through Hong Kong’s sea, land and air control points. The ImmD, in consultation with the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection and other Mainland authorities, estimates that around 2.73 million passengers will pass through land boundary control points. The number of outbound and inbound passengers using land boundary control points will be relatively higher on May 31 (Saturday) and June 1 (Sunday), with around 570 000 passengers and 540 000 passengers respectively.
     
         The ImmD estimates that the passenger traffic at the Lo Wu Control Point, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point will be heavy, with a daily average forecast of about 230 000, 200 000 and 140 000 passengers respectively.
     
         To cope with the anticipated heavy traffic during the festive period, the ImmD has minimised leave for frontline officers for flexible deployment and the operation of extra clearance counters and kiosks.
     
         Furthermore, the ImmD, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Customs and Excise Department and the MTR Corporation Limited will set up a joint command centre at the Lo Wu Control Point to make necessary arrangements. The ImmD will also establish close communication with Mainland authorities, including the Shenzhen General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection. To ensure a smooth passenger traffic flow, passenger conditions will be closely monitored and appropriate traffic diversion plans will be adopted when necessary.
     
         To avoid congestion and longer-than-usual waiting times for immigration clearance, the ImmD advises all land boundary passengers to plan in advance, avoid making their journeys during busy periods, and keep track of radio and TV broadcasts on traffic conditions at various control points. Furthermore, passengers may also check the estimated waiting times at each land boundary control point at any time or place via the Immigration Mobile Application (ImmD Mobile App). They can then plan their trips effectively and save time queuing at control points. The ImmD Mobile App can be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store (supports iOS version 12.0 or above), Google Play (supports Android version 8.0 or above), Huawei AppGallery (supports Android version 8.0 or above) and the APK file available on the ImmD website. Passengers can download the ImmD Mobile App by scanning the QR code (see Annex) or via the ImmD website, www.immd.gov.hk 
         For travellers making journeys to the Mainland, the ImmD reminds them to carry their proof of identity and valid travel documents for crossing the boundary. Hong Kong residents should also check the validity of their Home Visit Permits. Non-permanent residents must carry their valid smart identity card as well as their Document of Identity for Visa Purposes or valid travel document.
     
         Holders of the acknowledgement receipt issued due to the reported loss or replacement of their Hong Kong identity cards, or children under 11 years old who hold Hong Kong identity cards, should carry a valid travel document or Re-entry Permit.
     
         About 700 e-Channels have been installed at various control points. To further enhance the clearance efficiency of control points and allow more Hong Kong residents to use the fast and convenient e-Channel service, starting from March 31, the ImmD has adjusted the applicable age for e-Channel service for holders of smart identity cards. Eligible Hong Kong permanent residents aged 7 to 10 years old, who are at least 1.1 metres tall and hold a smart identity card and a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport, can use the e-Channels without prior enrolment for self-service immigration clearance via face recognition technology at all control points. Moreover, the Contactless e-Channel service is available at all control points now. All eligible Hong Kong residents, after enrolment, can generate an encrypted QR code through the Contactless e-Channel mobile application to enter the e-Channel and then verify their identity with the facial verification technology for automated immigration clearance.
     
         In addition, all control points have introduced self-service departures for visitors to Hong Kong (Smart Departure), which provides greater travel convenience for visitors. The service employs facial recognition technology for identity verification, which allows eligible visitors holding electronic travel documents to perform self-service departure clearance through Smart Departure e-Channels without prior enrolment.
     
         Hong Kong residents who require assistance while travelling outside Hong Kong may call the 24-hour hotline of the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the ImmD at (852) 1868, call the 1868 hotline using network data or use the 1868 Chatbot via the ImmD Mobile App, send a message to 1868 WhatsApp assistance hotline or 1868 WeChat assistance hotline or submit the Online Assistance Request Form.
     
         The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements is tasked with holistically co-ordinating and steering the preparatory work of various government departments for welcoming visitors to Hong Kong during the Tuen Ng Festival long weekend of the Mainland, as well as strengthening information dissemination to enable the public and visitors to plan their itineraries according to the latest situation.
    Issued at HKT 15:10

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    Two statements from world leaders this week bear closer examination. On May 27, the US president Donald Trump took to his Truth Social social media channel to proclaim that if it wasn’t for him, “lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia”. The following day the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, announced that his country would assist Ukraine in developing long-range missiles to deploy against targets inside Russia. Both statements are quite extraordinary.

    Even by Trump’s own standards, the public declaration by a sitting US president that he is protecting the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is unprecedented. Putin is under indictment for war crimes and has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for more than three years after having illegally annexed Crimea over a decade ago. There can now be no doubt left that the US has become an unreliable ally for Ukraine and its European partners.

    This is the context in which Merz’s announcement of increasing defence cooperation with Ukraine becomes significant. While Trump continues to chase an impossible deal with Putin – even after threatening to abandon his mediation efforts less than ten days ago – Germany has doubled down on Ukraine’s defence.

    Not only that, but as the EU’s largest and Nato’s second-largest economy, Germany is now also aiming to turn its Bundeswehr (the German army, navy and air force) into the “strongest conventional army in Europe”. Its most senior military officer and chief of defence, Carsten Breuer, has published plans for a rapid and wide-ranging expansion of defence capabilities.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    Germany is finally beginning to pull its weight in European defence and security policy. This is absolutely critical to the credibility of the EU in the face of the threat from Russia. Berlin has the financial muscle and the technological and industrial potential to make Europe more of a peer to the US when it comes to defence spending and burden sharing. This will be important to salvage what remains of Nato in light of a highly probable American down-scaling – if not complete abandonment – of its past security commitments to the alliance.

    After decades of failing to develop either a grand strategy to deal with Russia or the hard power capabilities that need to underpin it, achieving either will take some time. But it is important to acknowledge that some critical first steps have been taken by the new German government.

    Facing a growing threat

    For Germany, and much of the rest of Europe, the investment in more defence capabilities does not simply require producing more ammunition or procuring more advanced defence systems. These are important – but what is also needed is a significant investment in developing manpower. This means either finding more volunteers or reintroducing conscription, which is now no longer a taboo in Germany.

    Sending a whole new brigade to Lithuania, in its first international deployment since the second world war, is an important signal to Nato allies about Germany’s commitment to the alliance. It is also a clear signal to Russia that Germany finally is putting its money where its mouth is when it comes to containing the threat from Russia. It’s a threat which has grown significantly since the beginning of the Kremlin’s full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    The three years of Russia’s war against its neighbour have also highlighted the threat that Russia poses beyond Ukraine’s borders. The war against Ukraine has exposed European vulnerabilities and its dependence on the US. And it has taught military planners important lessons about what a future confrontation with Russia might look like. This is why Germany’s military planners have identified air defence systems, precision strike capabilities, drones, and electronic and cyber warfare assets as procurement priorities.

    Beyond Germany, the signs have have been that Europe more broadly is beginning to learn to stand on its own feet when it comes to its security. For the continent, the challenge is threefold. It needs to beef up its defence spending in light of the ongoing war against Ukraine and Russian threats to expand it further. Europe also needs to come to terms with the dismantling of the transatlantic alliance by Trump. And, finally, there is a populist surge that threatens the very foundations of European democracy and risks undermining efforts to stand up to both Trump and Putin. This has been given extra fuel by the alignment of Trump’s “America-first” Maga movement with Putin’s Russia.

    Major challenges ahead

    These are enduring challenges with no quick fixes. The first test of this apparent new-found European mettle will be the war in Ukraine. Giving Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles against targets in Russia is not a new development. Such a move was first taken by the then US president, Joe Biden, in November 2024 when he authorised Ukraine to launch limited strikes into Russia using US-made long-range missiles, followed by similar authorisations from London and Paris at the time, but not Berlin.

    Now, as then, how effective this will be depends not only on how many actual missiles Ukraine has but also on whether US intelligence sharing will continue. This is crucial for targeting. What’s more, effectiveness will also be difficult to measure. In a best-case scenario, Ukraine will now be able to stave off Russia’s reportedly impending summer offensive.

    The Kremlin has already indicated its displeasure and ratcheted up its nuclear sabre rattling.

    Trump, meanwhile, remains all talk when it comes to putting any pressure on Russia. By contrast, the Europeans, for once, are much more action orientated, which is another indication of the increasing rift across the Atlantic.

    This does not mean an end to transatlantic relations and pragmatic cooperation, as demonstrated by the meeting between the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, which happened almost simultaneously with Trump’s and Merz’s statements.

    What it does mean, however, is that Europe’s security now entirely depends on whether key players on the continent can muster the will to mobilise the resources required to defend the continent against an aggressive foe to the east. Berlin and other European capitals seem to have recognised at long last that this needs to happen. Now they need to demonstrate that they can follow through with swift and decisive action.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    – ref. Germany steps up to replace ‘unreliable’ US as guarantor of European security – https://theconversation.com/germany-steps-up-to-replace-unreliable-us-as-guarantor-of-european-security-257735

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, UN Woman Police Officer and UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    The Dag Hammarskjöld Medal, UN Woman Police Officer of the Year and UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year ceremonies – International Day of UN Peacekeepers 2025.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12YT34yhrKY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: International Day of Peacekeepers, Middle East & other topics- Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    International Day Of UN Peacekeepers
    Middle East
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Unrwa
    Yemen
    Sudan
    Haiti
    Ukraine
    Global Climate Predictions
    Global Employment Growth

    INTERNATIONAL DAY OF UN PEACEKEEPERS
    Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, who be the guest on Thursday to brief reporters on the International Day of Peacekeepers.
    As part of that at 2:45pm tomorrow, the Secretary-General will lay a wreath to honour the more than 4,400 United Nations peacekeepers who have given their lives in the line of duty since 1948. He will also preside over a ceremony in the Trusteeship Council, during which the Dag Hammarskjöld Medals will be awarded posthumously to 57 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers, who lost their lives serving under the flag of the United Nations last year.
    At 3 p.m., the Secretary-General will present awards to the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year. That is Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana and he will also present an award to the UN Woman Police Officer of the Year, and that is Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone.
    Both serve with the peacekeeping mission in Abyei.

    MIDDLE EAST
    Sigrid Kaag, the acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council this morning, telling Council members that the two-State solution is on life support and reviving it requires decisive action.
    She said the upcoming high-level international conference in June, co-chaired by France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, must not be another rhetorical exercise and instead must launch a concrete path towards ending the occupation and realizing the two-State solution based on international law, UN resolutions and previous agreements.
    Ms. Kaag warned that the entire population of Gaza is facing the risk of famine. As the Secretary-General has said, families are being starved and denied the very basics.
    She added that while Gaza rightly captures the world’s attention, the West Bank is on a dangerous trajectory. Developments are best described as accelerating de facto annexation through settlement expansion, through land seizures, and through settler violence. If not reversed, Ms. Kaag said, these will make the two-State solution physically impossible.
    Ms. Kaag will also be speaking to you after the Council session has ended. We are advised that there will likely not be closed consultations afterwards and we will let you know when she is there.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=28%20May%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpI-lzCyvrQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Influencer Andrew Tate is charged with a raft of sex crimes. His followers will see him as the victim

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Steven Roberts, Professor of Education and Social Justice, Monash University

    British prosecutors have this week charged social media influencer Andrew Tate with a string of serious sexual offences, including rape and human trafficking, alleged to have been committed in the United Kingdom between 2012 and 2015.

    This comes in the wake of an ongoing case in Romania. There, Tate and his brother Tristan face similar charges of coercing and exploiting women through what is sometimes described as the “loverboy method” of manipulation that is used to control and monetise women through webcam performances.

    A self-described misogynist, Tate is a widespread figure of notoriety for his views on women and his role in the internet “manosphere”. He has millions of followers globally, including ten million on X alone.

    This latest round of prosecutions will likely further entrench the loyalty of those followers: boys and young men who will see their leader as the victim of a corrupt system.

    Who is Andrew Tate?

    Tate is a British-American social media influencer and former kickboxer. He gained international notoriety for his violently misogynistic videos and pronouncements.

    He’s built a massive, loyal social media following through a brand that is part provocateur, part self-help guru and part conspiracy theorist.

    His rhetoric emphasises an aspirational masculinity geared towards extreme wealth and a physically fit body, combined with resentment towards women and so-called “feminised” societies. He has, for example, stated that women should “bear responsibility” for sexual assault.

    Tate is a leading ideological figurehead of what is often called the “manosphere” – a loose network of online communities and content creators who promote regressive ideas about masculinity, gender roles and male identity.

    Tate offers a template for many boys and young men to make sense of their place in the world, playing up ideas that boys are disenfranchised by social, economic, or cultural change.

    This is part of an emotional hook that provides belonging and clarity in a world his followers are told is stacked against them.

    Tate’s content involves both overt and, more often, insidious celebration of harmful gender norms and misogynistic ideologies.

    Research has found boys’ exposure to this content has contributed to a resurgence of a sense of male supremacy in classrooms. This then increases sexism and hostility towards women teachers and girl peers.

    Reinforcing the narrative

    Given this context, it is unlikely the new charges will erode his popularity.

    To be clear, he is not universally admired. In fact, the majority of boys reject what he stands for.

    However, for the significant minority who comprise his hardcore followers, these new charges will likely be used to reinforce a persecution narrative.

    In this way, Tate has paved the way for more violent and extreme misogyny to become standard, not rare.

    This was exactly the pattern when the Romanian charges first emerged. His followers flooded platforms with hashtags like #FreeTopG, reframing his arrest as proof that he was “telling the truth” and being punished for it.

    Figures like US President Donald Trump provide a relevant comparison. Trump has faced multiple criminal indictments and was found liable in a civil trial for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll.

    Yet, his popularity among his base has held firm.

    For many of his supporters, these legal challenges are not signs of wrongdoing, but evidence their champion is being unfairly targeted by corrupt institutions.

    Tate is similar in that his hypermasculine posturing and anti-establishment bravado ensures his audience see him the same way.

    Prompting more loyalty

    Given their previous responses, we can already predict how the Tate brothers will respond this time. They will deny the charges, of course, but more importantly, they will use the moment to deepen their mythos.

    We might expect to see talk of “the matrix” of shadowy elites, and the weaponisation of justice systems to silence truth-telling men.

    They will insist the charges are not about what they did, but about who they are: disruptors of a weak, feminised society. This victim-persecutor framing is central to their appeal and will remain so as this unfolds.

    Their followers will, then, likely respond with greater loyalty. For those already steeped in online misogyny and disillusionment, legal accusations such as these don’t raise doubt, but instead confirm the story they already buy into.

    This makes combating Tate’s influence a complex challenge. Simply “calling it out” is not enough.

    As our research shows, Tate’s brand thrives not in spite of controversy, but because of it.

    This is why we need a more strategic, long-term approach to address the harms Tate and other such figureheads represent.

    We need robust gender education in schools, stronger commitments to critical media literacy, and the elevation of alternative role models who can speak to the same emotional terrain without reinforcing misogyny.

    This can include other content creators, like Will Hitchins, but also youth workers or people of any gender from boy’s existing communities.

    A key lesson here is that, for the manosphere’s key figures, being charged or even found guilty of crimes (should that occur) might not signal their downfall or diminish their relevance.

    Steven Roberts receives funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, the Australian Research Council and the Australian Government. He is a Board Director at Respect Victoria, but this article is written wholly separate from and does not represent that role.

    Stephanie Wescott receives funding from Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety.

    – ref. Influencer Andrew Tate is charged with a raft of sex crimes. His followers will see him as the victim – https://theconversation.com/influencer-andrew-tate-is-charged-with-a-raft-of-sex-crimes-his-followers-will-see-him-as-the-victim-257805

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Sanders Announces Appointments

    Source: US State of Arkansas

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark.— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today announced the following appointments:

    Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board

    Detri Brech, Arkadelphia, to the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board. Term to expire January 14, 2030.  Replaces Rosalea Hyland.

    Amanda Dawson, Sherwood, to the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board. Term to expire January 14, 2030. Replaces Debra Head.

    Jeff Odom, Prairie Grove, to the Arkansas Dietetics Licensing Board. Term to expire January 14, 2030.  Replaces Lisa Fischer.

    Arkansas Economic Development Council

    John Newcomb, Osceola, to the Arkansas Economic Development Council. Term to expire January 14, 2029. Reappointment.

    Arkansas Forestry Commission

    John McAlpine, Monticello, to the Arkansas Forestry Commission.  Term to expire January 14, 2030.  Reappointment

    Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission

    Melody Bozza, Hensley, to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Term to expire September 1, 2027. Previously vacant position.

    Ricky Davis, Junction City, to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Term to expire September 1, 2028. Reappointment.

    Hal Hunnicut, Conway, to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Term to expire September 1, 2029.  Previously vacant position.

    Ed Spaeth, Greenbrier, to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Term to expire September 1, 2028. Reappointment.

    Matt White, Russellville, to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Term to expire September 1, 2027. Reappointment.

    Arkansas State Medical Board

    Sarah Bone, Little Rock, to the Arkansas State Medical Board. Term to expire December 31, 2028. Previously vacant position. 

    Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee

    Scott Harmon, Enola, to the Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee.  Term to expire March 1, 2029. Previously vacant position.

    Hannah King, Jonesboro, to the Arkansas State Occupational Therapy Examining Committee. Term to expire March 1, 2030.  Replaces Justin Brazeal.

    Arkansas Veterans’ Commission

    Martha Cothren, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Veterans’ Commission. Term to expire October 15, 2029. Replaces Kyle Moore.

    Brad Hegeman, Conway, to the Arkansas Veterans’ Commission. Term to expire October 15, 2025. Previously vacant position.

    Dianna Lankford, Bentonville, to the Arkansas Veterans’ Commission. Term to expire October 15, 2027. Previously vacant position.

    Monte Mills, Bella Vista, to the Arkansas Veterans’ Commission. Term to expire October 15, 2026. Previously vacant position.

    Arkansas Workforce Development Board

    Aaron Chastain, Paris, to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board. Term to expire May 1, 2027. Previously vacant position.

    Tim Thorne, Marion, to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board. Term to expire May 1, 2028. Previously vacant position. 

    Teri Cox-Meadows, Sherwood, to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board. Term to expire May 1, 2026. Previously vacant position. 

    Barry Sellers, Russellville, to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board. Term to expire May 1, 2027. Previously vacant position. 

    Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf

    Phillip Miller, Searcy, to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf.  Term to expire January 14, 2029.  Replaces Holley Mott.

    Philip Powell, Little Rock, to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas School for the Blind and the Arkansas School for the Deaf. Term to expire January 14, 2030.  Reappointment.

    Board of Trustees of Arkansas Northeastern College

    Clifton Chitwood, Osceola, to the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Northeastern College. Term to expire December 31, 2028.  Reappointment.

    Billy Curl, Blytheville, to the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Northeastern College. Term to expire December 31, 2030. Replaces Daniel Ritchey.

    Michael Jacques, Gosnell, to the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Northeastern College. Term to expire December 31, 2030. Replaces Lowry Robinson.

    Board of Trustees of Northwest Arkansas Community College

    Ashley Pointer, Bentonville, to the Board of Trustees of Northwest Community College. Term to expire January 1, 2027. Previously vacant position.

    Martin Luther King Jr. Commission

    Joseph Whitfield, Helena, to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. Term to expire September 1, 2025. Replaces Andy Montgomery.

    Old State House Commission

    Rebecca Gosnell, Magnolia, to the Old State House Commission. Term to expire March 19, 2033. Replaces Stacy DeJarnette.

    Suesann Viguet, Fort Smith, to the Old State House Commission. Term to expire March 19, 2034. Replaces Janet Hendren. 

    Oil and Gas Commission

    Lawrence Bengal, Little Rock, to the Oil and Gas Commission. Term to expire February 20, 2027.  Previously vacant position.

    Glen Fritsche, Fort Smith, as Special Commissioner, to hear Docket No. 032-2025-05.

    State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors

    Michael Griffino, Fayetteville, to the State Board of Appraiser, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2027. Reappointment. 

    Sara Hawkins, Imboden, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2027. Reappointment.

    Daniel Storlie, Batesville, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2027. Reappointment. 

    Scott McKennon, Morrilton, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2027. Reappointment.

    Matt Muehler, Hot Springs, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2028. Previously vacant position. 

    Brian Hester, Fayetteville, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2028. Reappointment. 

    Julie Matthews, Jonesboro, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2028. Reappointment.

    Sara Jane Stephens, Little Rock, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2028. Reappointment. 

    Walter Loveless, Little Rock, to the State Board of Appraisers, Abstracters, and Home Inspectors. Term to expire April 15, 2028. Reappointment. 

    State Board of Health

    Dr. James Zini, Mountain View, to the State Board of Health. Term to expire December 31, 2028. Reappointment.

    Dr. Tina Ipe, Little Rock, to the State Board of Health. Term to expire December 31, 2028. Previously vacant position.

    Dr. Keith Davis, Smackover, to the State Board of Health. Term to expire December 31, 2028. Replaces Glen Byrant.

    Dr. Laura Moore, Little Rock, to the State Board of Health. Term to expire December 31, 2028. Replaces Carl Riddell.

    Darlene Byrd, Cabot, to the State Board of Health. Term to expire December 31, 2028. Previously vacant position.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ivey Appoints Judge Bill Lewis to Serve on Supreme Court of Alabama

    Source: US State of Alabama

    MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday appointed Judge Bill Lewis to serve on the Supreme Court of Alabama. This comes following yesterday’s announcement from Justice Jay Mitchell that he was resigning his position on the state’s top court.

    “Judge Bill Lewis continues demonstrating justice and fairness under the law, as well as a willingness to serve the people of Alabama,” said Governor Ivey. “His decades of experience will serve the Supreme Court of Alabama well, and I am confident he is the best choice.”

    The governor appointed Lewis to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals in February 2024. Prior to that, Lewis served as circuit court judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit in Elmore County where he was the Circuit’s presiding judge. Lewis was the senior partner of the Lewis Law Firm, a firm he started in 2006. Lewis served as assistant district attorney for the 19th Judicial Circuit before going into private practice. He has also served as a criminal defense attorney in criminal cases and practiced civil and family law.

    Judge Lewis received his undergraduate degrees in political science and economics from the University of the South and his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

    Governor Ivey spoke to Judge Lewis this morning. Judge Lewis’ appointment is effective immediately. The governor’s appointment to fill Judge Lewis’ vacant seat on the Court of Civil Appeals will be announced soon.

    Judge Bill Lewis’ official headshot is attached.

    A copy of Justice Mitchell’s resignation letter is also attached.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ivey Appoints Judge Benjamin M. Bowden to Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

    Source: US State of Alabama

    MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced the appointment of Judge Benjamin M. Bowden to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.  The governor informed Judge Bowden of her selection today.

    “Judge Bowden’s impressive record as a legal scholar is matched by his exemplary performance as an attorney, prosecutor and judge. He has steadfastly demonstrated a dedication to justice and fairness under the law.  I have the utmost confidence that he will serve with the highest integrity,” said Governor Ivey.

    Judge Bowden will fill the vacancy on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals left by Judge Bill Lewis, who was appointed by Governor Ivey to the Alabama Supreme Court on Tuesday, following the resignation of Justice Jay Mitchell.

    “I am humbled by the confidence Governor Ivey has shown in allowing me to serve on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals,” said Judge Ben Bowden.  “Angie and I are thrilled at this new opportunity.  I’m a public servant at heart and I look forward to serving the people of Alabama in this important and exciting way.  Can’t wait to get started!”

    Judge Bowden has held the position of Circuit Judge of the 22nd Judicial Circuit in Covington County since his election in 2016.  Previously, Judge Bowden served as Probate Judge of Covington County from 2008 until 2016.

    The holder of an undergraduate degree from The University of Alabama and a juris doctor from The University of Alabama School of Law, Judge Bowden received his officer’s commission through the U.S. Air Force ROTC program.  Upon graduation in 1992, he entered the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, serving at Bitburg Air Base, Germany, and Aviano Air Base, Italy.

    After leaving active duty in 1997, Judge Bowden returned stateside to join the Andalusia law firm of Albrittons, Clifton, Alverson, Moody & Bowden, P.C.  There, he maintained a general litigation practice while also serving as the Municipal Prosecutor for the City of Andalusia and as an Assistant District Attorney.  During his career, he successfully prosecuted two capital murder cases, one of which was the longest jury trial in the history of Covington County.

    Judge Bowden remained a member of the Air Force Reserves until his retirement in 2023 with the rank of Colonel.

    Judge Bowden’s appointment is effective immediately.

    Judge Bowden’s official headshot is attached.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Government urged to abandon disability benefit cuts

    Source: Scottish Government

    Letter from Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall

    Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, calling for an urgent change to the UK Government’s “immoral and reckless” social security reforms.

    Ms Somerville welcomed the suggestion by Prime Minister Keir Starmer that cuts to winter fuel payment could be eased, but said this was not enough.

    In the letter the Social Justice Secretary said:

    “I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister announce plans to ease the Winter Fuel Payment cuts in Parliament last week. I am also aware of various media reports suggesting that a change in the UK Government’s two-child limit may be announced shortly. I welcome these developments and recognise that it is a step in the right direction to delivering a more robust Social Security system.

    “However, deep concerns remain around the UK government’s damaging social security reforms, including those announced in the ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper.

    “Given the speculation on the reversal or partial reversal of policies on Winter Fuel Payment and Two Child Cap, I call on you to urgently scrap these immoral proposals on disabled benefits.

    “These plans will only push more into poverty. It is therefore reckless and totally unacceptable for the UK Government to press ahead, not least due to the expected severity of the impact they will have on all our efforts to end child poverty – completely undermining the work of the UK Child Poverty Taskforce.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –