NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Security: Genocide Prosecution Network presents new visual identity

    Source: Eurojust

    This design shows a more modern, dynamic and cohesive look, in line with current branding and communication standards. The new logo is a combination of symbols, bringing together multiple concepts essential to the Network (hover over any of the specific aspects to see a detailed graphic display of this feature of the logo):

    • Law: represented by Lady Justice, evoking the scales of justice.
    • Network map: connecting lines symbolising cooperation between national authorities, partners and stakeholders.
    • Human figure with palms up: placed at the heart of the symbol, representing the victims of core international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes).
    • Scales: as a universal emblem of balance, equality and harmony.
    • Shield: reflecting the protection of victims and the integrity of judicial processes.
    • Sword: symbolising the strength of justice against crimes.

    Together, these elements are a visual reaffirmation of the identity, purpose and values that unite all members of the Network. 

    The transition to the short name Genocide Prosecution Network accompanies the visual renewal, underscoring its clear focus on providing support to investigations and prosecutions of core international crimes.

    This change does not alter the official name, remaining the European network of contact points with respect to persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, based on the Council Decision of 13 June 2002 (2002/494/JHA).

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Lord Mayor set to celebrate communities

    Source: City of Coventry

    Cllr Rachel Lancaster has been named Lord Mayor of the City of Coventry 2025/26.

    Cllr Lancaster represents Holbrook Ward, she grew up there, going to John Shelton and President Kennedy schools, She is the second female in her family to serve as a Councillor in Coventry.

    Cllr Lancaster has served in many roles during her 17 years on the Council, including holding the portfolio of Cabinet Member for Public Services, Charing Scrutiny Boards and as Chair and Deputy Chair of Licensing Committee.

    Her children, daughter Meridith and son Lawrie, will share the role of Lord Mayor’s Consort.

    Outside the Council, her professional life has seen her work in strategic management positions for charities across the city, including as a Director of Coventry Independent Advice Services and Coventry and District Credit Union.

    The Lord Mayor said: “The city of Coventry and the Council that serves it have always been such important parts of my life.

    “We have created a remarkable city by working together as a community, and in my year I will celebrate that work and the people and organisations that make it possible.

    “I feel extremely proud that I have been given the opportunity to serve Coventry in this way, and I’m looking forward to meeting some of the many people out there who help to make it home.”

    The Lord Mayor has chosen the Heart of England Community Foundation as her charity for the year, focusing on community organisations and women’s charities

    People can show their support by donating via the Council’s online payment system. Please make sure you select ‘Council and democracy’ and then ‘Lord Mayor Charity donations 24/25’ from the drop-down list. You can send a cheque payable to ‘Coventry City Council’ to The Lord Mayor’s Office, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR.

    The new Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Coventry has been named as Cllr Roger Bailey.

    Wednesday, 28th May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Attorney General celebrates UK-Irish relations during visit

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Attorney General celebrates UK-Irish relations during visit

    The Attorney General Lord Hermer KC visited Dublin where he engaged with the Irish legal community and government ministers to strengthen UK-Irish relations.

    Attorney General Lord Hermer KC and Attorney General Rossa Fanning

    The Attorney General Lord Hermer KC travelled to Dublin where he met with his counterpart, Attorney General Rossa Fanning.

    The two Attorneys General spoke about the UK and Ireland’s close geography, shared culture, and joint commitment to the rule of law.

    Over the two-day trip, between 22 and 23 May 2025, the Attorney also met with the Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan.

    Lord Hermer KC held meetings with leading Irish legal figures, including the President of High Court David Barniville and representatives from the Irish Supreme Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Director General of Law Society of Ireland, and Chairperson of Bar Council of Ireland’s Public Affairs Committee.

    Attorney General Lord Hermer KC and Deputy Head of Mission, Dublin, Elin Burns.

    The Attorney also engaged with the Irish legal professions with a reception at the King’s Inns – Ireland’s oldest law school – and a visit to Four Courts, home to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, High Court, and the Dublin Circuit Court.

    Attorney General Lord Hermer KC said:

    The UK and Ireland share the strongest of ties, with a close geography, shared culture, and joint commitment to the rule of law. 

    On the back of the historic UK-Ireland Summit in March, I made clear the opportunities available to strengthen the partnership between UK and Irish legal sectors – a chance to deliver growth and prosperity in both our countries.” 

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Unlawful, inaccurate and outdated information in police databases and the consequences for European police cooperation – E-002017/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002017/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Renew)

    On 26 April 2025, Follow the Money reported that Dutch police databases contain large amounts of unlawful, inaccurate and outdated (biometric) data, collected and stored in insecure digital and physical locations over decades.[1] Despite numerous warnings from competent authorities (including the Personal Data Authority) and the Council of State[2], the Minister of Justice and Security has not yet ordered the removal of the data.[3] As large amounts of data are increasingly analysed automatically, this can lead to errors in investigations and to discrimination and stigmatisation of innocent people.

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of these practices on the part of the Dutch police and of the fact that, despite warnings from competent authorities and experts, the data in question has not been removed?
    • 2.Does the Commission share the concern that this situation raises the likelihood that, in the context of European police cooperation, one Member State’s police forces may use unlawful and inaccurate data taken from another Member State’s police database[4]?
    • 3.What action will the Commission take vis-à-vis the Dutch Government if it fails to heed the warnings from the relevant authorities and have its police databases cleaned up, with a view to ensuring that Dutch police data can be used safely in the context of European police cooperation?

    Submitted: 21.5.2025

    • [1] https://www.ftm.nl/artikelen/politie-data-over-burgers-woo-stukken.
    • [2] The Personal Data Authority concluded that the collection of personal data by the police is not in line with the Dutch law transposing Directive 2016/680 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of the prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and on the free movement of such data.
    • [3] https://www.raadvanstate.nl/adviezen/@146778/w16-24-00313-ii/.
    • [4] Prüm II Regulation; Directive on the exchange of information between the law enforcement authorities; Council Recommendation on operational law enforcement cooperation.
    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Borrowing on the part of foreign domestic helpers

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ20: Borrowing on the part of foreign domestic helpers 
    Question:
     
         The Government has indicated that the borrowing problems of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) not only affect their own financial well-being, but also bring much trouble to their employers. It has been reported that in recent years, there have been instances where employers or former employers of FDHs are harassed by money lenders or financial intermediaries as FDHs default on loans. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the annual number of cases received by the Companies Registry from FDH employers, in 2024 and this year to date, in which harassment was allegedly inflicted on them by licensed money lenders during debt recovery from their FDHs;
     
    (2) given that in reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on November 27 last year, the Government indicated that it was formulating specific measures for public consultation along such directions as reviewing the existing regulations on money lenders and enhancing publicity and education, and it planned to commence such consultation in the first half of this year, of the progress of the public consultation on such new measures and the actual implementation timetable;
     
    (3) as the revised Code of Practice for Employment Agencies (CoP) promulgated by the Labour Department (LD) in May last year requires employment agencies to, when making an application for a licence and renewal of a licence, inform the LD of whether they are associated with any financial institution, of the number of employment agencies that have made such declarations to LD since the revision of CoP;
     
    (4) given that in reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on January 8 this year, the Government indicated that only about 90 licensed money lenders had joined or were in the process of joining “Credit Data Smart” (CDS), a Credit Reference Platform, how the authorities plan to encourage the remaining licensed money lenders to join CDS so that the affordability of borrowers (including FDHs) for unsecured personal loans can be more accurately assessed by the industry; and
     
    (5) as it is learnt that some FDHs have successfully applied for loans using their former employers’ addresses despite the completion of their agreements, whether the authorities have plans to address this issue, such as requiring financial institutions to verify with the authorities whether the FDH has an employment relationship with the employer declared by him or her before approving the loan?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Government is very concerned about the borrowing issue of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and will strictly regulate licensed money lenders (money lenders) and step up publicity and education etc, to better protect the interests of FDHs and their employers. In consultation with the Labour and Welfare Bureau, Companies Registry (CR) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the reply to various parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) In 2024 and 2025 (as at April), the CR received 11 and four complaints respectively on the alleged harassment of employers of FDHs by licensed money lenders due to debt collection in relation to the FDHs. The CR referred the cases concerned to the Police for handling.
     
    (2) The Government has been closely monitoring the market situation in the money lending sector to continuously review and enhance the prevailing regulatory measures. In 2021, we enhanced the licensing conditions of money lenders, including requiring money lenders, before entering into a loan agreement for an unsecured personal loan, to undertake an assessment of the borrower’s repayment ability and have due regard to the assessment outcome, and requiring money lenders to immediately cease to use a referee’s information after they are informed or aware that the written consent was in fact not signed by the referee. In 2022, we lowered the statutory interest rate cap and the threshold of extortionate rate from 60 per cent to 48 per cent and from 48 per cent to 36 per cent respectively.
     
         To step up efforts in addressing the issue of excessive borrowing, we will commence a public consultation this June on enhancing regulation of unsecured personal loans and strengthen protection for loan referees etc, and will consult the Legislative Council Panel on Financial Affairs in July. After the consultation period, we will collate and summarise the views to be received to finalise relevant measures and formulate relevant legislative proposals.
     
    (3) To enhance the protection for job seekers and employers, the Labour Department (LD) promulgated the revised Code of Practice (CoP) for Employment Agencies on May 9, 2024. The revised CoP requires employment agencies (EAs) to declare, when applying for a licence or licence renewal, whether they operate any financial institution on the same premises as EAs, and whether the EA licensee or the person intending to be the licensee is at the same time the responsible person of any financial institution.
     
         As at April 2025, the LD received and processed declarations from 3 362 EAs during applications for a licence or licence renewal in accordance with the aforementioned requirement. Among the 3 362 EAs, 41 EAs declared affiliations with financial institutions.
     
    (4) To encourage more money lenders to join the Credit Data Smart (CDS), the Government and the HKMA have been working closely with the Hong Kong Association of Banks, the Hong Kong Association of Restricted Licence Banks and Deposit-taking Companies, and the Hong Kong S.A.R. Licensed Money Lenders Association Limited to research into and provide different solutions, as well as to organise briefing sessions on the CDS and proactively invite money lenders that have not joined the CDS to meetings.
     
         Furthermore, under the strong support and promotion of the HKMA, the platform operator (i.e. Hong Kong Interbank Clearing Limited) has developed an interface, namely the “Common Module”, which provides an effective, lower-cost, and more convenient way for money lenders to connect to the CDS, saving the need to establish their own application programming interfaces (API).
     
         The Government and the HKMA will continue to co-operate with the industry to develop enhancement measures to assist more money lenders in joining the CDS, so as to build a more comprehensive database.
     
    (5) To address situation of employers or former employers being harassed due to borrowing of their FDHs, the licensing conditions of the current money lenders licence have clearly set out the relevant regulatory requirements. According to licensing condition 10 of the money lenders licence, a money lender and his debt collector shall only recover debts from the person who is in law indebted to him. A money lender and his debt collector shall not, while trying to locate the whereabouts of debtors, harass anyone, adopt unlawful or improper debt collection practices. Therefore, if a FDH employer or former employer discovers that his/her residential address is used improperly and feels harassed, he/she may lodge a complaint with the money lender concerned and request immediate cessation of his improper debt collection behaviours.
     
         Money lenders should strictly comply with the licensing conditions in carrying on their business. Any breach of the licensing conditions during the course of business is an offence under the Money Lenders Ordinance. Upon conviction, offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years. If the Registrar of Money Lenders (Registrar) and the Police consider that a money lender has ceased to be a fit and proper person to carry on business as such, they may apply to the Licensing Court for revocation of his licence or refusal of his licence renewal application. Therefore, if there is any complaint against a money lender for improperly harassing a FDH employer or former employer, the complaint may serve as a ground for the Registrar or the Police to apply to the Licensing Court for revocation of his licence, or make an objection against his licence renewal application.
     
         In addition, we will step up promotional and educational efforts targeting the FDH community, reminding FDHs that they could not provide their employers’ or former employers’ addresses as the borrower’s contact address without seeking their prior consent. We will also strengthen co-operation with the LD and non-governmental organisations to ensure that the relevant messages are effectively conveyed.
    Issued at HKT 16:21

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special traffic and transport arrangements in Southern District and Tai Po during Tuen Ng Festival holidays

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Transport Department (TD) today (May 28) reminded members of the public that the following special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented in Southern District and Tai Po during the Tuen Ng Festival holidays (May 30 to 31) to facilitate the holding of dragon boat races.

    Southern District 
    (i) Road closures 
    B. Public transport arrangements 
    (i) Road closures
     
         Dai King Street, Dai Hei Street and the section of Dai Kwai Street south of Dai Cheong Street will be temporarily closed to all vehicular traffic, except for taxis, emergency vehicles and those vehicles authorised by the police officers on site, from 6pm on May 30 to 5pm on May 31.
     
    B. Public transport arrangements
     
    (i) Bus route diversion and suspension of bus stops 
         For details of the special traffic and public transport arrangements, members of the public may visit the TD’s website (www.td.gov.hk 
         Due to road closures, the TD anticipates that traffic in the areas concerned will become significantly congested. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the above areas affected by the road closures. In case of traffic congestion, motorists should exercise patience and drive with care, and follow the instructions of the Police on site.
     
         The TD appeals to members of the public to make use of public transport services as far as possible to avoid traffic congestion and unnecessary delay. The TD and the Police will closely monitor the traffic situation and implement appropriate measures when necessary. The Police may adjust the traffic arrangements, subject to the prevailing crowd and traffic conditions in the areas. The public should pay attention to the latest traffic news through radio, television or “HKeMobility”.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Traffic incidents involving animals

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ19: Traffic incidents involving animals 
    Question:
     
         Under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374), the driver of a vehicle shall stop if an accident involving that vehicle occurs whereby damage is caused to animals not in the vehicle, and the Government included cats and dogs in the definition of “animal” under the Ordinance in 2021. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the following information in respect of traffic accidents involving vehicles hitting animals in each of the past five years: (i) the number of animals being hit (set out in the table below a breakdown by the type of animals (i.e. (a) horses, (b) cattle, (c) ass, (d) mules, (e) ‍sheep, (f) pigs, (g) goats, (h) cats and (i) dogs)), (ii) the number of reports received by the Government on such accidents, and (iii) ‍among these accidents, the number and percentage of cases involving hit-and-run drivers, (iv) the number of such accidents investigated by the Government under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), and (v) among them, the number of prosecutions instituted;
     

    Year(2) of the current handling procedures adopted by the government departments concerned upon receipt of cases of animals being hit by vehicles; the number of such cases in which animal carcasses were handled directly by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department in each of the past five years, and their percentage in the total number of cases involving animals being hit by vehicles;
     
    (3) as there are views that the deterrent effect of the existing legislation on accidents involving vehicles hitting animals is inadequate, whether the authorities will introduce fixed penalty or incorporate a demerit point system; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (4) whether the Government will allocate additional resources to assist in rescuing animals hit and injured by vehicles; and
     
    (5) whether the Government will review the legislation to include more local wild animals (including but not limited to monkeys and wild pigs) in the definition of “animal” under Cap. 374; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    The Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) (the Ordinance) provides that the driver of a vehicle shall stop if an accident involving that vehicle occurs whereby damage is caused to specified animals not in the vehicle. Drivers are also required to provide particulars, including name and address, to any police officer or any person having reasonable grounds for requiring the information. Otherwise, the driver must report the accident to the Police as soon as possible and in any case no later than 24 hours after the accident. The Government amended the definition of specified animals under the Ordinance on November 7, 2021 to include cats and dogs. Currently, specified animals include horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat, cat and dog.
     
    Having consulted the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), the reply to the question from the Hon Chan Hak-kan is as follows:
     
    (1) In the past five years, the HKPF has received a total of 933 reports of vehicle hitting the specified animals (details set out at the Table below), 147 of them involved driver failing to stop after hitting the animals. The HKPF does not maintain breakdown of statistics by the type of animals, cases investigated under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), and the prosecution number.
     

    Year(as at April 30) 
    For the drivers involved, if such person did not stop after the accident, or provide particulars to police officers or report to the Police in accordance with the requirements of the Ordinance, the HKPF will investigate and follow up according to the established mechanism; and will instigate prosecution if there is sufficient evidence.
     
    As regards the disposal of animal carcasses, upon receipt of referrals from departments or reports from the public, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will arrange for contractors to collect animal carcasses at the scene and deliver them to the landfills of the Environmental Protection Department for disposal. The FEHD does not maintain a breakdown of animal carcasses collected in traffic accidents.
     
    (3) Under the Ordinance, a driver failing to stop upon a relevant accident is liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment for 12 months, whereas failing to provide particulars and report to the Police according to the requirements of the Ordinance is liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. In general, enforcement by fixed penalty notices is targeted at cases which are simple, straightforward, clear-cut and capable of being easily established, but whether a driver has complied with the Ordinance requires further investigation of the Police, hence it is more appropriate to prosecute by issuing summonses. As regards demerit point system, considering the existing penalties have a certain deterrent effect, we do not intend to include the above offences in demerit point system at this stage, but will timely review them as necessary.
     
    (5) The Ordinance requires drivers to stop if they hit a specified animal, with the intent of facilitating livestock owners to seek compensation from the drivers concerned for the loss incurred. The Government’s inclusion of cats and dogs as specified animals under the Ordinance in 2021 aimed to enable cats and dogs injured in traffic accidents to receive timely treatment. As regards whether other wild animals will be included, making reference to the legislation in some overseas jurisdictions, similar stopping and reporting requirements generally only cover animals that are commonly kept by people but not wild animals. In fact, a number of stakeholders raised at the public consultation for amending the Ordinance in 2021 that if monkeys and wild pigs are to be included as specified animals, the drivers may suddenly stop their vehicles and lead to road traffic safety problems. The Government will closely monitor the implementation of the Ordinance and strive to strike a balance between safeguarding animal welfare and the safety of road users, and will timely review whether there is room to further enhance the Ordinance.
    Issued at HKT 11:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Arts and mega events

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Dominic Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (May 28):

    Question: There are views that while Hong Kong has successfully hosted international mega events such as Art Basel Hong Kong in recent years, Singapore has introduced many large-scale events (e.g. concerts by world-renowned singers) through cross-departmental collaboration and dedicated mechanisms, also with notably significant results. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Predatory contracts for the supply of vaccines during the pandemic – E-002009/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002009/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (NI)

    The decision of the European Court of Justice – establishing that the European Commission was wrong to withhold an explanation for its rejection of a journalist’s request for access to the messages exchanged between the President of the Commission and the President of Pfizer during the vaccine negotiations – completely fails to address the crux of the matter. It does not respond to the public call for the contracts to be published in their entirety, including details on the exact quantities and the terms and conditions of the contracts for the supply of vaccines during the pandemic. It also certainly fails to highlight the real scale of the problem, as well as the heavy liability left unattributed.

    The matter is linked to fierce competition between pharmaceutical groups for ‘a slice of the pie’ – i.e. taxpayers’ money – with the the EU institutions fraternising with monopolistic groups.

    Can the Commission therefore answer the following:

    • 1.What view does it take of the fact that it is the Commission’s own responsibility to satisfy the public call for all contracts to be published in full – with their terms, conditions and quantities – so that the people know how many vaccines they paid for and why?
    • 2.What view does it take of the fact that political and criminal liability needs to be attributed to those responsible for the predatory contracts that were demonstrably signed not only with this group but also with the others that concluded contracts with the EU for the supply of vaccines?

    Submitted: 20.5.2025

    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin took part in the jubilee parade of cadets

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The annual parade of the Moscow cadet movement “The connection between generations will not be broken!” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War took place on Victory Square on Poklonnaya Gora.

    Before the parade began, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and the Mayor of Moscow addressed the cadets with a welcoming speech. Sergei Sobyanin and the Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergei Kravtsov.

    “I congratulate you on the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the glorious anniversary that we are celebrating on these bright May days. Moscow sacredly honors the legacy of the victors. Courage, fortitude, patriotism and selfless service to the Fatherland. Cadets and the entire younger generation grow and are brought up on these values. And today, on Poklonnaya Gora, we see the best representatives of the Moscow cadet movement in the parade formation. Next to you, shoulder to shoulder, are cadets from other cities of Russia and Belarus. This emphasizes the traditions of the cadet brotherhood. You are smart and talented, strong and courageous, energetic and purposeful. And such concepts as honor and dignity are the main principles of life for you. Your peers look up to you, your family and friends are rightfully proud of you. Everything is ahead of you. And I am sure that you will succeed, because where there are cadets, there is victory,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

    His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ congratulated the cadets on the holiday.

    “Moscow has truly changed beyond recognition in recent years. It is a wonderful city, convenient for living, beautiful, which really reflects the general development of our entire state. Many thanks to Sergei Semyonovich Sobyanin, the City Hall, all those who work to beautify and improve all aspects of Muscovites’ lives. Of course, thanks to all of us, to all our people, to all working people, to all who love their country and work for its prosperity,” noted Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill.

    The Minister of Education of the Russian Federation Sergey Kravtsov emphasized that Moscow is becoming the center of the cadet brotherhood, which is based on spiritual and moral values, courage and loyalty to traditions. Today, a strategy for the development of cadet education is being developed. 510 thousand children are studying in cadet and Cossack corps and schools, educational organizations with cadet and Cossack classes.

    “The Moscow Cadet Movement unites young patriots who are ready to take up the baton of serving the Fatherland from their great-grandfathers, grandfathers, and fathers. Cadets are the golden fund of the Russian state. The future of the country is in your hands. And now your main task is to comprehend the world, study science, and get good and excellent grades. Cadet – that sounds proud. Love for the Fatherland is not just words, but deeds,” added Sergey Kravtsov.

    The parade was attended by seven thousand people. Among them were combat veterans, including participants in the special military operation (SVO), representatives of legislative and executive authorities, law enforcement agencies and public organizations, teachers, parents and students from the capital’s schools.

    On behalf of the Moscow cadet movement, Artem Lazorev, a student of school No. 1794 named after A.S. Chufistov, spoke.

    “In May, we celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. We are proud of the feat of our ancestors. A feat that will be inscribed in history and in our hearts for centuries. We will be proud that we continue the work of our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. We are preparing to serve our great Motherland. We remember them, we thank them. The connection between generations will not be broken,” the cadet thanked.

    More than three thousand cadets took part in the parade – 52 parade units. Among them:

    — 43 ceremonial units of students from cadet classes of comprehensive schools in Moscow;

    — three ceremonial units of students from federal general education institutions: the Alexander Nevsky Cadet Corps of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, the M.A. Sholokhov Moscow Presidential Cadet School of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, and the Moscow Suvorov Military School of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation;

    — a ceremonial crew of the cadet boarding school with initial flight training named after three times Hero of the Soviet Union A.I. Pokryshkin (city of Fryazino, Moscow region);

    – four parade units from Lugansk, Kherson, Izhevsk and Perm;

    — a ceremonial formation of the cadet delegation from Belarus (city of Brest).

    The Moscow Cadet Movement Parade has been held since 2015. Its goal is to increase the prestige of the capital’s cadet education, to develop in young people a sense of pride in the history of the country and belonging to the cadet brotherhood, and to cultivate a readiness to serve the Fatherland.

    Festival-forum of the Moscow cadet movement

    This year, the Moscow Cadet Movement Festival and Forum began after the parade. The practical cluster for cadets and other guests hosts interactive master classes and exhibitions on tactical medicine, UAV control, VR training and fire training. Speaker sessions are also held here with the participation of Heroes of the Fatherland, representatives of the veteran community, government bodies, popular athletes and opinion leaders in the field of patriotic education of youth. These meetings are of greatest interest to educators, parents and teachers.

    The sports cluster hosts tournaments in team sports and tactical games: basketball, handball, mini-football, tag rugby, laser tag and archery tag. Guests can also attend master classes organized by sports federations, autograph sessions and meetings with famous athletes.

    The career guidance cluster features an exhibition of leading universities – partners of the Cadet Class in a Moscow School project and law enforcement agencies, interactive career guidance platforms and demonstration performances.

    In the creative cluster, spectators will see performances by the best creative cadet groups, exhibitions and photo zones on the theme of traditional crafts and Cossack culture.

    The festival-forum will end with a gala concert featuring popular domestic performers.

    Cadet education in Moscow

    In total, the cadet movement in the capital includes more than 30 thousand children. It has a banner approved by the Heraldic Council under the President of the Russian Federation, presented by the Mayor of Moscow and consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’.

    In Moscow schools, cadet education is one of the types of specialized training aimed at preparing students for military and civil service. The project began in 2014 with the first 70 cadet classes. They are now open in 236 schools.

    “Cadet education is one of the most popular in Moscow schools. More than 28 thousand children study in specialized classes. They are brought up in the best cadet traditions – with an emphasis on erudition, physical development, service to the Motherland and people. Many children join volunteer organizations and choose a military career,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote in

    on your telegram channel.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    Cadets are mainly trained in daytime mode from the seventh to the 11th grade. Cadet classes with round-the-clock stay in the system Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow are available at two cadet boarding schools (the First Moscow Cadet Corps and Cadet Boarding School No. 5), as well as at the Police College.

    There are also five cadet educational institutions of federal subordination in Moscow. These are the Moscow Suvorov Military School, the Moscow Presidential Cadet School named after M.A. Sholokhov of the National Guard of the Russian Federation, the Cadet School of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation named after Alexander Nevsky, the Moscow Cadet Corps “Boarding School for Pupils of the Ministry of Defense of Russia” and the Moscow Military Music School of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.

    Children are selected for cadet classes of city schools based on their academic achievements, physical development and health, and their degree of focus on the future choice of a military or civil servant profession. The profile of cadet education is provided by ministries and departments of the security forces, including the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. Together with them, schools determine the subject profile and a variable set of additional general development programs for cadet classes depending on the specifics of the department, and also provide in-depth study of Russian history.

    In 2024, more than 90 percent of graduates of cadet classes and institutions entered higher education institutions and secondary vocational education organizations, including law enforcement agencies.

    Every year, Moscow cadets participate in city events of patriotic orientation. Among them:

    — the parade of the Moscow city cadet movement “The connection between generations will not be broken!” dedicated to the victory in the Great Patriotic War;

    — Moscow meta-subject Olympiad “The connection between generations will not be broken”;

    — Cadet Class Day at the Victory Museum (standing watch as an honor guard at post No. 1 near the Flame of Memory and Glory on Poklonnaya Hill);

    — educational project “Cadet Day at VDNKh”;

    – Cadet Spartakiad;

    — city competition “Review of the formation and songs. “March to the victors!””;

    — events dedicated to days of military glory and memorable dates in Russia;

    — events held by public and veteran organizations of Moscow: Moscow City Council of Veterans of War, Labor, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies; Club of Heroes of the Soviet Union, Heroes of the Russian Federation and Full Cavaliers of the Order of Glory of the City of Moscow and the Moscow Region; Regional Public Fund for the Support of Heroes of the Soviet Union and Heroes of the Russian Federation named after General E.N. Kocheshkov; Interregional Public Fund for Social Security “Law and Order-Shield”.

    In the 2024/2025 academic year, 895 students of cadet classes became winners and prize-winners of the meta-subject Olympiad “The Connection between Generations Will Not Be Broken”. More than six thousand cadets passed the demonstration exam. More than eight thousand students attended classes in 20 areas of the cycle of introductory professional trials “Cadet Class – Path to the Profession” and career guidance events at partner universities.

    Among the cadets’ sporting achievements is passing the standards of the “Ready for Labor and Defense” (GTO) complex. Thus, 3,134 cadets became holders of the gold GTO badge, 2,076 people became holders of the silver badge, and 1,873 students became holders of the bronze badge.

    Patriotic education of youth

    Patriotic education is an integral part of the educational process in the Moscow education system.

    The main areas of this work include preserving the continuity of generations. Priorities include perpetuating the memory of the participants in the Great Patriotic War and implementing joint projects with veterans’ organizations. In the system of the Moscow Department of Education and Science, more than 70 schools and colleges are named after heroes. For example, in recent years, the capital’s schools have been named after V.A. Matrosov, R. Sorge, A.N. Samsonov, M.V. Grizodubova. In 2024, the name of A.S. Chufistov, director of school No. 1794 who died in the SVO, was perpetuated.

    Every year, together with the city’s veteran organizations, about a thousand joint projects are implemented, including museum-historical Olympiads, competitions, meetings with students in school museums, and courage lessons.

    Since 2001, the Heroes’ Cup review competition has been held for the best organization of patriotic education in educational organizations of the capital’s Department of Education and Science. The competition takes into account the presence of volunteer and young army units, sports and tourist sections and associations, as well as the number of children attending them. Important components of the assessment are the work of children in caring for memorial sites under the patronage of the educational organization, the quality of passing five-day training camps and fulfilling the standards of the GTO complex. All subordinate educational organizations participate in the competition.

    Museum pedagogy is developing. There are more than 1,100 museums in the capital’s schools. Of these, more than 600 are dedicated to the history of Russia, including the Great Patriotic War and the special military operation. Military personnel take an active part in organizing exhibitions: they donate personal belongings and documents to museums, and also hold meetings with children.

    In the 2024/2025 academic year, military-patriotic clubs began to develop in the Moscow education system as associations of additional education. From September to May, their number increased from 193 to more than 400. Currently, over 22 thousand people are involved in military-patriotic clubs.

    The city’s educational institutions closely cooperate with the Victory Museum on Poklonnaya Hill. Together with the largest museum complex in Russia dedicated to the history of the Great Patriotic War and World War II, a project such as the educational and historical quest “The Feat of the People” is being implemented. It is visited by 103 thousand people per year.

    The interactive excursion program is of great interest “Battle for Moscow. First Victory”The exhibition at the Victory Museum includes five three-dimensional interactive panoramas, 24 multimedia complexes, more than 1.7 thousand exhibits, including personal belongings of soldiers, generals and people’s militia fighters, over 3.5 thousand photographs, over a thousand scanned documents and over two thousand reference materials. The exhibition is visited by 60 thousand people per year.

     

    Together with the Russian Orthodox Church, the Victory Museum is holding an interactive tour, “A Journey into History. Faith in Victory.” The project tells about the contribution of believers — Orthodox and representatives of other faiths — to the fight against fascism and the approach of the Great Victory. Schoolchildren will learn about the exploits of partisan priests, the origin of the expression “sister of mercy,” and the qualities that warrior defenders cultivate in themselves. The annual number of excursionists is 25 thousand people.

    Another direction of patriotic education of youth is conducting lessons “Conversations about the important”. Each school week in educational institutions of the city begins with the raising of the State Flag of the Russian Federation and the performance of the anthem. Classes of the cycle “Conversations about the important” are held, dedicated to the peoples of Russia, its history, culture, nature.

    These classes are also held at the sites of additional education centers and cultural institutions. In September 2024, the project “Conversations about the Important in the Museum of Contemporary History of Russia” began, which was organized by the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia and the Moscow Center for Educational Practices. Excursions dedicated to significant events in the history of Russia in the 19th-21st centuries were attended by more than 10 thousand schoolchildren and students;

    Young people actively participate in the volunteer movement. Every year, students from schools and colleges, under whose patronage there are more than a thousand objects of military glory, take part in citywide memorial and patronage events.

    Other areas of volunteer work include social, environmental, sports, cultural, media volunteering, professional and cyber volunteering.

    On the basis of schools and colleges, 22 support sites have been created, which are operators of volunteer projects and actions. More than 100 thousand students actively participate in volunteer squads;

    An important area of patriotic education is preparing young people for military service. Every year, 10th graders and second-year college students attend five-day training camps as part of the study of the program “Fundamentals of Security and Defense of the Homeland.”

    This year, the training camp is being held at the Patriot Health and Educational Center, the Avangard Educational and Methodological Center, the Preobrazhensky Defense and Sports Center, and military units. More than 40,000 people will take part in the training camp. The children will learn the basics of military topography and military regulations, and acquire military medical, drill, tactical, fire, and technical training skills;

    In addition, more than 55 thousand Moscow schoolchildren participate in the All-Russian military-patriotic public movement “Yunarmiya”. The capital’s Yunarmiya members take part in events held by the main headquarters of the movement. The largest of them are ceremonial events dedicated to memorable dates and days of military glory of Russia (more than 25 thousand participants), the All-Russian military-patriotic game “Zarnitsa 2.0” (more than 17 thousand participants) and the All-Russian children’s and youth festival “Voroshilov shooter” (more than five thousand participants);

    The work of directors’ education advisers is of great importance in the patriotic education of young people. This position was introduced in Moscow schools and colleges in September 2023 as part of the federal project “Patriotic Education of Citizens of the Russian Federation” of the national project “Education”. Currently, more than 1.2 thousand such specialists work in educational institutions.

    Directors’ advisors play an important role in the implementation of key federal and city projects in the field of education, as well as the development of children’s initiatives. They involve children in children’s public associations, school and student theaters, volunteer units, patriotic, sports and tourist clubs. Specialists also conduct various patronage events and courage lessons. This helps preserve the memory of the participants of the Great Patriotic War, heroes and veterans.

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

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

    HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12872050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Update – Serious crash at Gawler Belt

    Source: New South Wales – News

    A rider has been taken to hospital in a serious condition following a crash at Gawler Belt this afternoon.

    Just before 2.30pm on Wednesday 28 May, police were called to the intersection of Horrocks Highway and Thiele Highway at Gawler Belt after reports a Holden station wagon and Husqvarna motorbike collided.

    The rider, a 66-year-old man from Evanston Park was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the car, a 53-year-old woman from Morgan was taken to hospital for minor injuries and mandatory blood analysis.

    Major Crash Investigators have attended the scene and investigations are ongoing.

    The road was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

    Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Police to add over 1.2k recruits

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Police Force has a target of recruiting 130 probationary inspectors and 1,140 police constables for the 2025-26 financial year.

    Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung told legislators today that as at March 31 this year, the numbers of vacancies in the force for the grades of rank and file, inspectorate officers and gazetted officers, ie Superintendents and above, were 5,500, 236 and 29 respectively.

    The overall number of vacancies was 5,765, representing a vacancy rate of about 17.4%, which is similar to figures over the past three years.

    To enhance the effectiveness of recruitment efforts, the force has adopted a multi-pronged approach. Besides conducting recruitment exercises throughout the year, it organises various recruitment activities on a regular basis.

    Additionally, the force has expanded its recruitment network by conducting recruitment exercises at universities worldwide.

    Mr Tang said the rise in the number of people applying to join the Police Force in recent years shows that its recruitment strategies are effective.

    He added that the force will align with the Government’s requirement to reduce the civil service establishment by 2% each year in 2026-27 and 2027-28, while continuing to review and assess the effectiveness of using different resources.

    By re-establishing work priorities, appropriately redeploying staff and using technologies to enhance operational effectiveness, he stressed, the force will ensure that the adjustment in numbers does not affect the efficiency and provision of its services, and that it will continue to provide the public with high-quality and efficient policing.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Resetting our relationship with the third sector

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Council Leader Jane Meagher writes in the Evening News today about the need to support Edinburgh’s third sector.

    With our population growing and more people struggling with the cost of living, Edinburgh’s third sector is in a precarious position.

    According to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, seven in 10 charities now cite financial trials as their biggest challenge, up significantly in just two years. Traditional funding streams from the public sector, which provide vital grants to allow charities to operate in our local communities, are under growing pressure too.

    Echoing these concerns, a report to the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee late last year made it clear that short-term funding cycles are creating financial instability for charities, diverting time and resources away from what’s important – delivering valuable services for vulnerable people.

    This predicament came into sharp focus for Edinburgh earlier this year when the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (EIJB) – which oversees health and social care spend in the city – had to make difficult decisions to help it make necessary savings of close to £30m. Dozens of local projects and charities have seen their funding pulled as a result.

    Immediately, councillors united to intervene and see what could be done to prevent the devastating closures and redundancies these cuts could bring. Thankfully, we’ve been able to step in to provide emergency £2m funding, providing short term relief for 46 projects.

    Yesterday at Policy and Sustainability Committee, we also agreed how to spend a contingency fund worth £273,473 to further support primarily small, local projects and organisations in our communities which have lost EIJB funding. Grants of £10,000 will be made available this autumn to help with the resilience of the sector.

    Yet, the fact remains that the council also faces significant financial challenges. We remain the worst funded council in Scotland and plugging this gap will be difficult in future years. To that end, we need to find a longer-term sustainable way forward for this sector which provides so much good. Tackling poverty is one of our city’s top priorities and we cannot achieve this without the support of projects which focus on prevention.

    To get ahead of this, we’ve engaged the Edinburgh Partnership to conduct a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations in Edinburgh, and to ultimately find solutions for improving funding certainty in future years. This includes how grant funding and commissioning is delivered, how third sector organisations monitor and report on their work, and what in-kind support is provided.

    We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and collaborate to help those who need this sector’s support most. You can share your views through our Consultation Hub webpage, or by attending a workshop from now until Thursday 5 June. Results will be shared with those who take part and with the wider third sector, and will be reported to our next Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.

    In a successful city like Edinburgh, it is unacceptable that 80,000 people are living in poverty–  including close to a quarter of all children – which makes tackling inequality and preventing poverty one of the biggest challenges facing the capital.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Marseille: 16 arrests in a crackdown on a network with ties to the Sinaloa cartel

    Source: Europol

    Two main organisers identifiedIn June 2024, the French authorities seized 216 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and arrested two French nationals in connection with the case. The subsequent criminal investigation revealed a criminal network involved in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs with strong ties to the Mexican Sinaloa cartel as well as to criminal gangs active in Belgium, Spain,…

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Public urged to report suspected waste crime as new heatmaps published

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Public urged to report suspected waste crime as new heatmaps published

    New maps published showing nearly 17,000 reports of waste crime across England in 2023 and 2024, demonstrating offending is rife

    Amid a government clampdown on rogue waste operators to clean up Britain’s streets, the Environment Agency has today (Wednesday 28 May) published new heatmaps showing the densest areas of waste crime reports in England.   

    Across England, 16,773 reports of suspected waste crime were submitted from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. The maps show the highest number of reports were concentrated in the West Midlands (2,008 reports), Yorkshire (1,791 reports) and East Anglia (1,678 reports). 

    With the data demonstrating that criminals blighting towns, cities and countryside are active across the country, the Environment Agency is urging the public to report more suspected offending as it looks to shut rogue operators out of the waste industry for good. 

    Waste criminals cost the economy an estimated £1 billion every year. Estimates suggest a staggering 34,000 million tonnes of waste is illegally managed annually, enough to fill Wembley Stadium 30 times over or 4 million skips – but the true scale of offending is likely far greater due to under-reporting of incidents. 

    Under their Plan for Change, the government has confirmed rogue operators caught transporting and dealing with waste illegally will face up to five years in prison under new legislation. Longer prison sentences for rogue waste operators and new powers for councils to crush vehicles involved in waste crime will act as a strong deterrent and ensure the full force of the law comes down hard on those trashing the nation’s communities. 

    Emma Viner, Enforcement & Investigations Manager at the Environment Agency, said:

    Waste crime is toxic. Criminals steal business from legitimate operators, trash local communities, harm the environment, and avoid paying taxes which fund public services. 

    As a nation, we must stand united against criminals, working together to stop them. We can all play our part by taking steps to keep waste away from criminals in the first place and reporting any suspected wrongdoing.

    Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said:

    Through our Plan for Change, this government will crack down on the waste cowboys, seize and crush fly-tippers’ vans, and clean up Britain. 

    We will not stand idly by while organised crime groups profit from an avalanche of rubbish burying our communities and undercutting legitimate business.

    The Environment Agency’s National Waste Crime Survey shows just 25% of all waste crime incidents are thought to be reported. Every piece of information the Environment Agency receives is crucial in helping them to bring offenders to justice. The earlier an incident is reported to the regulator, the quicker it can deal with it and prevent an escalation. 

    To do so, the public can submit reports via the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60 or to Crimestoppers via their website or by calling 0800 555 111, which is always 100% anonymous. 

    To prevent criminals getting their hands on waste in the first place, the public is urged to use only waste carriers listed on the public register to take away their rubbish. 

    Jacob Hayler, Executive Director of the Environmental Services Association, said:

    Waste crime harms the environment, damages communities and threatens legitimate waste services.  

    As citizens, we each have a duty of care, not only to stop our waste from falling into the wrong hands, but to report suspected illegal handling and dumping of waste when we see it – helping the regulatory authorities to catch and punish those responsible.

    Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at CIWM, said: 

    Waste crime at all levels continue to cause misery and anxiety to people and communities across the UK. Importantly, it also restricts the opportunities for local economies to thrive, as well as often causing real environmental harm.  

    We’ll continue to work with CIWM members, local authorities, and regulators to promote best practice and deploy all available resources in the ongoing pursuit of high-quality environments enabling thriving local economies for businesses and communities.

    The publication of the heatmaps comes amid the Environment Agency’s ongoing #WasteCrimeWednesday social media campaign, which targets the public, the waste industry, and waste criminals themselves as the regulator looks to stop waste crime for good. 

    As the environmental regulator for waste businesses operating in England, the Environment Agency uses an intelligence-based approach with its partners to bring waste criminals to justice through tough enforcement action and prosecutions. Its investigations helped secure numerous convictions in relation to waste crime in 2023 and 2024.

    Case studies

    West Midlands

    • In September 2023, a Worcestershire-based director and his company were ordered to pay nearly £110,000 following a case brought by the Environment Agency for the unlawful storage, treatment and disposal of waste without an environmental permit. Environment Agency officers found evidence the G R Shorthouse Ltd site in Hopton Wafers was being used for the storage of scrap metal, burning of wood waste, and unauthorised use of construction and demolition waste, offending described by the sentencing judge as an intentional and flagrant breach of the law aggravated by previous convictions and financial motivation. 
    • In March 2025, a Droitwich-based business was made to pay more than £52,000 after failing to comply with a demand for information about the materials they accepted. The information was required from Tetron Welbeck Limited Liability Partnership to allow the Environment Agency to conduct an audit of the site to ensure waste within the correct category was being accepted. 

    Yorkshire 

    • Following a successful prosecution by the Environment Agency, Stuart Bedford was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for running waste operations in Bradford and Doncaster without the required environmental permit and keeping waste at the sites in a manner likely to pollute the environment or harm human health, while Vicky Bedford was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement for her involvement. 
    • Elsewhere, in June 2023, an East Yorkshire man received a suspended sentence and was ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation and costs, after illegally storing hazardous waste and running an illegal waste site in Aldbrough. An investigation by the Environment Agency found Stephen Coates was storing abandoned corroding chemical drums, intermediate bulk containers, shipping containers, old tyres and flooring materials appearing to contain asbestos on his land next to a residential house during a five-period from March 2017 to March 2022. 

    East Anglia

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: EU to miss 2030 climate target by 1 percentage point

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BRUSSELS, May 28 (Xinhua) — The European Union will miss its legally binding target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 and will fall behind by about 1 percentage point, the European Commission said Wednesday.

    In its assessment of the final National Energy and Climate Plans submitted by Member States, the Commission found that existing and planned measures would reduce net emissions in the EU by around 54% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. This is 1 percentage point less than the 55% reduction target set by the EU Climate Law.

    Under the law, the EU aims to become climate neutral by 2050, with an interim target of reducing emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen related to China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen related to China Construction Bank (Asia) Corporation Limited 
    The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the website or login screen concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
    Issued at HKT 17:35

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Full Text: Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit

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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — The following is the full text of the Joint Statement of the Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and China released on Tuesday:

    Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit

    WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and the People’s Republic of China, gathered on the occasion of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit on 27 May 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;

    ACKNOWLEDGING the long-lasting and deeply-rooted historical and civilizational linkage and economic ties among ASEAN, China and GCC;

    RECOGNIZING the close and mutually-beneficial economic collaboration and cooperation among ASEAN, China and GCC;

    REAFFIRMING our desire to further promote ASEAN-China-GCC relations, guided by fundamental principles and shared values, norms and commitments, including those enunciated in the United Nations Charter;

    UNDERSCORING the importance of regionalism and multilateralism, regional unity and international law in addressing shared challenges, while upholding ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture to foster peace, stability, development and prosperity;

    UNDERSCORING the importance of GCC’s critical role to foster peace, security, stability, development, prosperity and dialogue;

    APPRECIATING China’s crucial role in promoting peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development in regional and international affairs;

    ENDEAVORING to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity, through mutual respect and cooperation between countries and regions to achieve development and progress based on adherence to international law, including the UN Charter, the principles of good neighbourliness, and respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity, non-interference in their internal affairs, and refraining from the threat or use of force, and settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means;

    ACKNOWLEDGING the importance of strengthening relations among ASEAN, China and GCC in promoting regional cooperation and economic development in the broader Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern contexts;

    RECOGNIZING that ASEAN, China and GCC encompass diverse and complementary economies which create enormous potential, broad prospects and new opportunities for greater cross-sectoral trade, investment and economic collaboration;

    RECOGNIZING the increasing importance of fostering closer economic collaboration among our regions, and reiterating our shared commitment to strengthening our partnerships to promote economic and sustainable development;

    RECOGNIZING the need to strengthen confidence in the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core to protect businesses, consumers worldwide and livelihoods of people in our regions;

    REAFFIRMING our resolve to enhance economic resilience and environmental sustainability, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced, and beneficial to our peoples and future generations;

    ACKNOWLEDGING our joint efforts to promote closer cooperation between ASEAN, China and GCC and China’s vision to build a closer China-ASEAN Community with a shared future and a China-Arab Community with a shared future in the new era;

    EXPLORING cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crime, cybercrime, counter-terrorism and extremism;

    The Leaders expressed grave concerns over the developments in the Middle East and agreed on the following:

    — Condemn all attacks against civilians and call for a durable ceasefire and for all concerned parties to ensure the most effective and efficient access for humanitarian aid, and relief supplies and other basic necessities and essential services, as well as the restoration of electricity and water, and allow the unhindered delivery of fuel, food and medicine throughout Gaza;

    — Call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, refrain from targeting them and to abide by international humanitarian law, particularly the principles and provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949;

    — Acknowledge the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024, which is of the opinion, among others, that the UN, and especially the General Assembly, which requested this opinion, and the Security Council, should consider the precise modalities and further action required to bring to an end as rapidly as possible the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

    — Support the ongoing efforts to release all hostages and those under arbitrary detention;

    — Urge all parties concerned to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict with a view to realizing the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders; in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) and UN General Assembly resolutions, including UNGA resolution A/RES/ES-10/23 on the Admission on New Members to the UN dated 10 May 2024;

    — Support the efforts of the global alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution, and note the initiatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union towards realizing an independent Palestinian state;

    — Recognized Qatar’s mediation efforts to reach ceasefire and facilitate aid delivery and China’s efforts towards Palestinian internal reconciliation, particularly its role in facilitating the signing of the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity by Palestinian factions in July 2024 in Beijing;

    — Welcome the Resolution of the UN General Assembly adopted on 11 December 2024, in which the General Assembly, inter alia, called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and called upon all parties to enable the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operation with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

    With firm resolve, we pledged to advance the spirit of inclusivity, sustainability, resilience and equal partnership, charting a united and collective path toward a peaceful, prosperous and equitable future.

    We hereby:

    Economic Integration

    1. Decide to foster collaboration that promotes economic prosperity, resilience and sustainable development among ASEAN, China and GCC, based on mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual benefit, and anchored on the principles of inclusivity and sustainability in engaging all interested partners.

    2. Commit to enhancing economic cooperation by leveraging the complementarities among ASEAN, China and GCC. Priority will be given to:

    (i) Reaffirming the central and indispensable role of the WTO at the core of the rules-based multilateral trading system, which provides a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory and open global trading system;

    (ii) Exploring cooperation, including through the priority areas of the Global Development Initiative and various frameworks or initiatives by ASEAN and GCC, to facilitate the attainment of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

    (iii) Promoting free trade and welcoming the full conclusion of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations, and looking forward to its early signing and entering into force, as well as an early conclusion of the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement negotiations;

    (iv) Enhancing industrial and supply chain resilience and fostering sustainable trade practices for new economic opportunities in potential areas in emerging and future-oriented industries such as the digital and green economy and technologies;

    (v) Exploring the establishment of a regional business council to facilitate dialogue between businesses from ASEAN, China and GCC in supporting enhanced trade and investment flows and the development of regional value chains;

    (vi) Exploring regional financial cooperation, including capital markets, and financial technology among others, while empowering micro, small and medium enterprises;

    (vii) Exploring cooperation on local currency and cross-border payments;

    (viii) Taking coordinated and comprehensive actions to prevent and fight corruption.

    Connectivity

    3. Enhance connectivity through:

    (i) Promoting high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and seamless connectivity, including through the development of logistics corridors and digital platforms;

    (ii) Promoting sustainable infrastructure development in supporting interconnected and seamless economic diversification, growth and sustainability;

    (iii) Exploring further cooperation to enhance infrastructure development for seamless and efficient connectivity, including recognizing the importance of maintaining and promoting maritime safety and security, given the importance of oceans and seas as key factors in driving growth and prosperity in the respective regions.

    Energy Security and Sustainability

    4. Acknowledge the global imperative for sustainable resilience and energy transition with the aim to collaborate on:

    (i) Working together towards a sustainable, just, affordable, inclusive and orderly energy transitions in line with the Paris Agreement;

    (ii) Supporting global energy market stability and adopting a balanced approach that does not exclude energy sources but instead innovates technologies that enable emissions management and efficient use of all energy sources to facilitate sustainable economic growth for all;

    (iii) Working to diversify and secure supply chains globally in line with international best practices, including for critical energy transition minerals, and encourage resource efficiency, while respecting applicable national laws and regulations;

    (iv) Recognizing the strategic importance of our cooperation on stable, reliable, and sustainable energy markets to reduce volatility and to enhance the security of energy supply. We recall the urgent need to address climate change and stress the importance of the energy transition;

    (v) Exploring new business opportunities, including the development of clean energy;

    (vi) Enhancing knowledge exchange and collaboration on renewable energy, clean/green energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), biofuel, bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas), low carbon hydrogen, low carbon ammonia, and sustainable fuels, as well as energy efficiency policies, regulatory frameworks, technology and innovations consistent with the national priorities of each country;

    (vii) Strengthening training and capacity-building initiatives in areas such as nuclear safety, security and safeguards, reactor technology, nuclear and radioactive waste management, regulatory infrastructure, and civilian nuclear energy development that is guided by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards, guidance and international best practices, and advancements in and energy storage technologies to support informed decision-making and policy development for civilian nuclear energy;

    (viii) Driving the strategic development of initiatives on hydrogen and ammonia technologies, oil and LNG supply chains and infrastructure, upstream LNG projects, methane abatement and emissions reduction to support both energy security and the transition to cleaner fuels;

    (ix) Encouraging private and public sector investments and partnerships in energy infrastructure development, including subsea power cables, and cross-border transmission projects under related initiatives of ASEAN, China and GCC, to advance multilateral power trade for greater regional energy connectivity, resilience, and market integration, including through renewable energy generation and LNG terminals;

    (x) Promoting cooperation on environmental sustainability, including climate action, disaster management, biodiversity conservation, monitoring the state of the marine environment, air and soil quality, industrial inspection, and pollution control by leveraging on new technological advancements, the exchange of knowledge, scientific expertise, technology, and training and strengthening multilateralism and climate solidarity;

    (xi) Developing joint research and innovation initiatives on emerging technologies such as direct air capture, enhanced geothermal systems, and next-generation solar and wind technologies to support long-term energy sustainability and low-carbon solutions;

    (xii) Sharing of knowledge and best practices on green skills development of workforce to support just transition to renewable energy.

    Digital Transformation and Innovation

    5. Pursue opportunities in digital innovation and technology by:

    (i) Exploring a cross-regional framework to promote the digital economy, in areas such as digital trade, e-commerce, digital payment, fintech, artificial intelligence, start-ups and data security cooperation;

    (ii) Exploring partnerships in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, and smart cities development and advanced technological infrastructure;

    (iii) Supporting cooperation in the development of digital skills and digital literacy programmes to ensure inclusive participation in the digital age, and promoting platform work with inclusive social protection.

    Food and Agriculture

    6. Recognize the potential for cooperation in the food and agriculture sector and commit to:

    (i) Promoting sustainable agriculture, including through reducing harmful agrochemicals, promoting digitalization, advancing nature-based solutions and fostering public-private partnerships;

    (ii) Exploring cooperation in the field of halal food through the exchange of information and sharing of experiences on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s national systems, laws and policies;

    (iii) Supporting efforts to strengthen food security, nutrition and distribution, including through enhancing productivity and sustainability efforts, promoting the diversification of food sources, strengthening the quality and variety of food production, and supporting the generation and diffusion of new and sustainable technologies;

    (iv) Promoting the trade of food and agricultural products and technologies cooperation.

    People-to-People Exchange

    7. Foster greater understanding and connectivity among our peoples by:

    (i) Promoting high-quality tourism and cross-regional marketing campaigns, including culture and heritage tourism, ecotourism, and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions tourism, among other segments, and fostering an exchange of best practices in tourism digitalization and tourism destination management;

    (ii) Promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and cultures to advance mutual understanding and friendship as well as respect for diversity and welcoming the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution of International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations;

    (iii) Exploring opportunities to enhance mutual understanding and friendship while fostering cultural exchanges through art, music and literature programmes, especially among youth and ethnic groups;

    (iv) Strengthening cooperation in education through the exchanges of students and educational personnel, scholarships programmes and joint research initiatives, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

    8. Implement the Joint Statement through mutually agreed activities among ASEAN, China and GCC, including through existing mechanisms such as the ASEAN-GCC, China-ASEAN and China-GCC mechanisms.

    9. Reaffirm our collective resolve to work hand-in-hand to unlock the full potential of our partnership, and to ensure that our cooperation translates into tangible benefits for our peoples and communities.

    10. Welcome the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit in Doha on 3 October 2024;

    11. Note ASEAN’s initiatives on its priority areas, such as:

    — ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future;

    — ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP);

    — The ASEAN Power Grid;

    — Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP);

    — The Action Plan on Sustainable Agriculture in ASEAN.

    12. Note GCC’s initiatives on its priority areas, such as:

    — The Global Logistics Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 12-14 October 2024;

    — The First Global Food Security Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 25-26 November 2024;

    — United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 2024;

    — Sustainable Development Week in Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 2025;

    — International Conference in Support of Syria 2025;

    — The International Conference on Food Security in Yemen, 27-28 October 2025;

    — United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE, December 2026;

    — The Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani International Award for Excellence in Combating Corruption;

    — The establishment of the Global Water Organization in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

    — High-level international conference for peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, to be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, in June 2025;

    — Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Green Initiative.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Statement of solidarity by the North Atlantic Council concerning the malicious cyber activities against the Czech Republic

    Source: NATO

    We stand in solidarity with the Czech Republic following the malicious cyber campaign against its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We recognise that the Government of the Czech Republic has attributed the responsibility to the People’s Republic of China, specifically APT31, which is associated with the Ministry of State Security. This campaign targeted a Czech MFA unclassified network, causing damage and disruption.

    We strongly condemn malicious cyber activities intended to undermine our national security, democratic institutions and critical infrastructure. The malicious cyber activity targeting the Czech Republic underscores that cyberspace is contested at all times. We observe with increasing concern the growing pattern of malicious cyber activities stemming from the People’s Republic of China.

    Cyber threat actors persistently seek to destabilise the Alliance. We remain committed to expose and counter the substantial, continuous and increasing cyber threat, including to our democratic systems and critical infrastructure. We are determined to further improve our capabilities and resilience and to employ the necessary capabilities in order to deter, defend against and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats to support each other.

    We promote a free, open, peaceful and secure cyberspace. We call on all states, including the People’s Republic of China, to refrain from malicious cyber activities, to uphold international law, to live up to their public declarations and international commitments, and to act within the framework for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace as affirmed by all members of the United Nations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Police to crush vehicles used antisocially in 48 hours

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Police to crush vehicles used antisocially in 48 hours

    Consultation launched on fast-tracking disposal of vehicles seized for antisocial behaviour.

    Photo: Getty Images

    Communities blighted by off-road biking in public parks and intimidating street racing are set to benefit from new police powers to crack down on antisocial behaviour and deliver safer streets through the Plan for Change.

    Perpetrators of antisocial driving face having their cars, e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours under stronger powers proposed by the government.

    Currently, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle, making it easier for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and with a limited deterrent to repeat offending.

    The measure to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in antisocial behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

    Combined, these new powers will help tackle the scourge of vehicle-driven antisocial behaviour by sending a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that swift justice will be delivered and this behaviour not tolerated.

    The changes are also expected to have a wider impact on tackling more serious crime with e-scooters and e-bikes often used to facilitate drug dealing, organised acquisitive crime and serious violence.

    Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:

    Antisocial and reckless driving brings misery to communities across the country, from dangerous street racing to off-road bikes tearing through local parks.

    By enabling police to seize and dispose of these vehicles within just 48 hours, we’re giving our officers the tools they need to deliver immediate results and providing communities the swift justice they deserve.

    As part of our Plan for Change, these new powers send a clear message that antisocial behaviour, whatever form it takes, will not be tolerated in our local communities.

    In a public consultation published today, the government is reviewing the statutory fees for removing, storing, and disposing of vehicles in England and Wales. This will help make sure police can afford to keep removing antisocial and illegal off-road bikes and other vehicles from our streets.

    The crackdown on antisocial behaviour continues implementation of the government’s Plan for Change and Safer Streets Mission which will see new Respect Orders targeting persistent perpetrators of antisocial behaviour.

    In April this year, the Prime Minister set out new measures as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to restore neighbourhood policing to local communities, including every force having a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead to tackle the specific challenges each area faces.

    National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, said:

    We welcome the consultation announced by the government. Antisocial use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution. It can have long-term effects on a neighbourhood, with the criminal damage of roads, other vehicles and surrounding property.

    Drivers and riders also risk injuring themselves, other road users, cyclists and pedestrians as they do not have full control of their vehicle and their full attention on their surroundings.

    As with all forms of transport, we know they can potentially be exploited for criminal use, antisocial behaviour or cause danger when used inappropriately.

    We know that driving or riding in this way can also be used as a form of intimidation, either to other road users or the community. Loud noise from engines or music, and deliberately creating large amounts of exhaust or tyre smoke can also be seen as an aggressive act.

    Officers are committed to preventing harm and keeping our communities safe and will continue to take necessary action against those who use transport illegally. Officers having the ability to quickly seize, remove, store and dispose of vehicles used in an antisocial behaviour setting will help keep road users safe and protect our communities.

    Policing will take appropriate action against those who commit offences using existing legislation whilst also raising awareness through engagement.

    Edmund King, AA president, said:

    Illegal car meets and street racing are not just antisocial, but also present road safety problems which have resulted in needless injuries and fatalities.

    This is a positive step that should make people think again before joining illegal car cruises.

    Sandra Bauer, Neighbourhood Watch Head of Policy, Partnerships and Projects and Deputy Chief Executive said:

    We’re so used to seeing powerful vehicles on our roads that it’s easy to forget just how dangerous and noisy they can be, especially when they are being used antisocially.

    Our members tell us that the impact on a community or neighbourhood can be huge, creating safety risks, noise disturbance and intimidating people.

    This initiative sends a strong message that activities like off-road biking in public parks and street racing are not harmless, but very dangerous and damaging.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Nykredit Realkredit A/S publish supplement no 1 to joint Euro Medium Term Note Programme – Nykredit Realkredit A/S

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    To                Nasdaq Copenhagen

    Nykredit Realkredit A/S publish supplement no 1 to joint Euro Medium Term Note Programme

    Nykredit Realkredit A/S publish supplement no 1 dated 28 May 2025 to joint €15,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note Programme (“EMTN Programme”) dated 8 May 2025.

    Under the EMTN Programme Nykredit Realkredit A/S may issue Subordinated Notes (Tier 2), Senior Non-Preferred Notes and Senior Unsecured Notes.

    The supplement and the EMTN Programme are available for download on Nykredit’s website at nykredit.com/ir.

    Questions may be addressed to Morten Bækmand Nielsen, Head of ALM & Investor Relations, tel +45 44 55 15 21 or Birna Arnbjarnardóttir, Attorney-at-Law, tel +45 44 55 16 90.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Promoting traditional customs and cultural activities

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ6: Promoting traditional customs and cultural activities 
    Question:
     
    It is learnt that the traditional customs of “Petty Person Beating” and “Offering Sacrifices to the White Tiger” carried out underneath the Canal Road Flyover (commonly known as “Ngo Keng Kiu”) in Causeway Bay have attracted quite a number of tourists to view and experience them. However, due to the crowded environment at the location, there have been conflicts between tourists and local residents from time to time, which is not conducive to the promotion of the relevant cultural activities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the change in the number of stall operators carrying out the aforesaid traditional customs and cultural activities underneath the flyover in the past 10 years; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) of the details of the authorities’ work in promoting the aforesaid traditional customs and cultural activities in the past three years, and whether the effectiveness of such work has been assessed; and
     
    (3) as it is learnt that at present, the aforesaid stall operators only hold business registration certificates and there is no accreditation mechanism for such cultural activities, while the management of stall operators and related activities also involves different policy areas (e.g. environmental hygiene and cultural tourism), whether the Government has considered setting up an interdepartmental management group to improve the relevant accreditation and management work with the focus on cultural conservation, so as to reduce the conflicts between tourists and residents while balancing the operational needs of the industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    President Xi Jinping once pointed out that the outstanding traditional Chinese culture is the spiritual lifeblood of the Chinese nation. The current-term Government is committed to promoting the outstanding traditional Chinese culture and has introduced multiple measures over the past two years, including establishing the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and organising the Chinese Culture Festival. “Promote Profound Traditional Chinese Culture and Develop Cultural Contents with Hong Kong Character” was also formulated as one of the four strategic directions in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development promulgated at the end of last year.
     
    From the perspective of traditional culture, whether a custom qualifies as “outstanding” traditional culture depends on its cultural values in terms of diversity and pluralism. The merit of traditional culture should also be evaluated based on among others, its transmission, dissemination, and level of prevalence.
     
    Both “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” and “Beating Petty Person” are traditional Chinese culture with certain folk customs and symbolic meanings. In folk belief, White Tiger is seen as a malevolent spirit believed to bring misfortune. Thus, the ritual of “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” aims to ward off bad luck and troubles. “Beating Petty Person”, a folk custom in southern China, involves striking paper effigies or wooden figures with various tools to drive away bad luck and negative energy.
     
    The “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger during Insects Awaken Day” is included as one of the items on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Inventory of Hong Kong. The item specifically pertains to the practice of “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” conducted on the “Insects Awaken Day” within the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” system, which typically falls on the 5th or 6th of March in the Gregorian calendar. This practice conducted on the “Insects Awaken Day” may include “Beating Petty Person”, and the practice of “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” can take place at various venues across Hong Kong, without limitation to any specified location. However, the “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” and “Beating Petty Person” activities underneath the Canal Road Flyover (commonly known as “Ngo Keng Kiu”) in Causeway Bay are operated all year round in general. These activities, which are not included in the scope of the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” social practices, constitute commercial operations conducted by service providers.
     
    In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, my consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Edward Leung is as follows:
     
    The area underneath Canal Road Flyover is a renowned location for “Beating Petty Person”. While peak activity occurs during the “Insects Awaken Day” in March each year, the stalls operate “year-round”. Currently, around ten stalls operate beneath the flyover for this ritual, primarily concentrated along the pedestrian walkway facing the Hennessy Road tram tracks.
     
    Relevant departments have all along been following up on the environmental hygiene and street management issues arising from “Beating Petty Person” and carrying out enforcement actions within their respective jurisdictions. The Wan Chai District Office (WCDO) co-ordinates interdepartmental clearance operations (Joint Operation) on a regular basis to mitigate nuisances caused by these activities to the local residents and the surrounding environment. On-street activities may involve the purviews of various departments. The work of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is mainly to maintain environmental hygiene. The FEHD has been monitoring the traditional customs of “Beating Petty Person” underneath the Canal Road Flyover and officers will, during their routine inspection, take appropriate actions based on the actual circumstances to maintain environmental hygiene.
     
    From January to May 2025, the WCDO coordinated a total of nine Joint Operations at the aforementioned location. Prior to the operation, the Government will post notices on unauthorised articles placed on Government land, reminding owners to remove the obstructive items. During the Joint Operation day, any remaining articles would be cleared by the FEHD. The WCDO will advise the “Beating Petty Person” practitioners to maintain clear pedestrian pathways. The Hong Kong Police Force will be present to maintain public order and provide assistance as required. Furthermore, any unauthorised structures found to be occupying Government land would be referred to the Lands Department for follow-up action.
     
    In alignment with the objective of promoting the outstanding traditional Chinese culture, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are committed to safeguarding, transmitting and promoting the ICH of Hong Kong while actively supporting the national policies on furthering the safeguarding of ICH. For ICH items across diverse domains, various corresponding measures are implemented to strengthen different aspects of work such as identification, documentation, research, preservation, promotion and transmission and to enhance the public’s understanding of ICH and engage the community in safeguarding ICH. An example of these measures includes the ICH Funding Scheme of the LCSD, which supports eligible local organisations and individuals in implementing meaningful local ICH projects to promote the items on the ICH Inventory of Hong Kong. In addition, the LCSD will also develop a mechanism and criteria in 2025 for recognising the bearers of the items on the Representative List of the ICH of Hong Kong, as well as organising the “Hong Kong ICH Month”. As to “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger during Insects Awaken Day”, the first “Hong Kong ICH Month” to be held in June this year will include workshops to introduce “Twenty-Four Solar Terms”, including the introduction of this ICH item of “Insects Awaken Day”.  
     
    In addition, the one-stop travel information platform of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, DiscoverHongKong, features information on “Beating Petty Person” under Ngo Keng Kiu. If visitors are interested, they can experience this distinctive local custom firsthand.
    Issued at HKT 15:42

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s new law targets private sector growth through stronger financial support

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

    People work in the filling workshop of the Global Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park of Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley in Tumd Left Banner in Hohhot, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s newly enacted Private Sector Promotion Law has drawn significant attention for introducing a range of financial support mechanisms designed to bolster private businesses.

    The legislation, which took effect on May 20, 2025, aims to address long-standing financing challenges faced by private enterprises and promote high-quality economic development.

    Expanding financing channels

    The Private Sector Promotion Law explicitly encourages private businesses to diversify their financing channels. By supporting the development of a multi-layered capital market, the law makes it easier for private companies to raise money directly, for example, by issuing stocks or bonds.

    Some local governments are already introducing new financing tools. Jiangsu province, for instance, has launched the “Private Credit Loan,” which breaks through traditional loan limits and offers more flexible financing options for private businesses.

    Specifically, Jiangsu’s loan breaks through the previous loan ceiling of 10 million yuan ($1.3 million), with the maximum amount now reaching up to 30 million yuan. The funding usage term has also been extended to a maximum of three years, and for project-based financing, it can be extended to 10 years — far longer than the traditional corporate loan practice of annual review within a one-year term.

    Optimizing credit policies

    The law also requires relevant State Council departments to use monetary policy tools and macro-credit policies to encourage financial institutions to provide more inclusive financial services to private businesses. Measures include setting reasonable tolerance levels for non-performing loans, improving the due diligence and liability exemption mechanisms, and enhancing professional service capabilities.

    The National Financial Regulatory Administration has also called for optimizing credit supply policies, directing financial institutions to offer more targeted financial services to private enterprises.

    Innovating financial products and services

    The law encourages financial institutions to create products and services tailored to the specific needs of private businesses. This includes innovative financing methods such as accounts receivable financing, warehouse receipt financing, equity financing, and intellectual property financing.

    For example, Chongqing has promoted IP financing to help small- and medium-sized technology firms access funding. When Zhongke Guangzhi (Chongqing) Technology Co., Ltd. faced financing challenges, the Chongqing Intellectual Property Operation Center arranged an IP pledge loan.

    By using the company’s core patents as collateral, and combining this with a credit assessment, the center helped the company secure a 5 million yuan loan. Across China, financial institutions are also using big data and artificial intelligence to develop new service models, aiming to make financial services more efficient and better suited to the needs of private enterprises.

    Strengthening financing guarantee functions

    The Private Sector Promotion Law aims to establish a comprehensive risk-sharing system for private enterprise financing, supporting collaboration between financial institutions and guarantee providers. The National Financial Regulatory Administration, together with the Ministry of Finance, is promoting the creation of a nationwide government-backed guarantee system to offer low-cost financing guarantees for small and micro businesses.

    Establishing information-sharing mechanisms

    The law also calls for the development of a robust credit information collection and sharing mechanism, encouraging credit reporting agencies and rating institutions to serve private enterprises. This measure is designed to reduce information gaps between lenders and private businesses, lowering lending risks.

    In short, the Private Sector Promotion Law introduces a broad range of financial support policies to make financing more accessible and equitable for private companies. These initiatives are expected to ease funding challenges, unlock innovation, and drive high-quality economic development in China.

    Luo Weijie is an associate professor in economics at Beijing International Studies University.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Senior officials from NATO Allies and partners gather for NATO’s first Southern Neighbourhood Security Dialogue

    Source: NATO

    NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, Javier Colomina, convened NATO’s first Southern Neighbourhood Security Dialogue of Senior Officials, which was held yesterday (27 May 2025), at the NATO Joint Force Command in Naples (Italy).

    “Our gathering in Naples comes as a result of the decision taken by Allied leaders at NATO’s Washington Summit last summer – to adopt a Southern Neighbourhood Action Plan for a stronger, more strategic and result-oriented approach towards the region. We are approaching the first anniversary of the adoption of the Plan; this Security Dialogue is a reflection of how far we have come in ensuring that the southern neighbourhood is systematically included in NATO’s agenda,” Mr. Colomina pointed out. He added that this initiative “provides a unique opportunity to discuss the evolving security situation in the region, and to exchange views on our priorities for cooperation, with the direct involvement of our capitals.” 

    NATO’s Special Representative also illustrated the development of a NATO–Southern Neighbourhood Partners’ Agenda for Tackling Security Challenges. This document was produced in consultation with Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) partners, and was endorsed by NATO Foreign Ministers at their meeting in Brussels in April. It identifies priority areas for thematic dialogues, including strategic perspectives on regional security, counter-terrorism, cyber defence, maritime security, countering information threats, scientific cooperation, Small Arms and Light Weapons and Mine Action (SALW/MA), and climate change and security.

    The event was co-organised by the office of the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. It featured around 90 participants from NATO Allies, partner countries from NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative,and regional organisations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about Australia’s research capacity – this is why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Walker-Munro, Senior Lecturer (Law), Southern Cross University

    On Wednesday, Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt and economics professor Richard Holden gave a joint address to the National Press Club in Canberra. Their key message? Australia isn’t spending enough money on university research.

    Schmidt wants to ensure Australia can undertake research vital to our national interests.

    “I look around and I am scared,” Schmidt said. “The Australian government investment in its sovereign research capability was 50% higher 15 years ago as a fraction of GDP.”

    In his remarks, Holden warned, “we’ve become addicted to funding […] research capability through international student income”.

    If this sounds familiar, both Schmidt and Holden have made similar calls before. And their press club presentation follows constant and repeated repeated calls from the university sector for more funds.

    How much is Australia spending on research and how does this compare to other countries?

    How does Australia compare?

    When we look around the world, Australia is lagging when it comes to research spending. Australia spends roughly 1.7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on all forms of research and development.

    Our research expenditure has also decreased every year since 2008, according to the Australian Academy of Science.

    Meanwhile, based on World Bank data, the United States spends about 3.59% of their GDP on research. China might only spend 2.56% of its GDP, but that’s 2.56% of around US$18.7 trillion (A$29 trillion) – meaning China spends about US$500 billion ($778 billion) on research annually.

    The OECD average (across 38 member countries) is 2.7%, a full percentage point higher than Australia. We’re also underspending compared to other nations smaller than us, including:

    – Finland has a population roughly one-fifth of Australia and spends 2.96% of its GDP on research

    – Sweden has a population of about 10 million and spends 3.41%.

    Australia’s top research universities (the Group of Eight), argue Australia needs to work towards a target of 3% GDP to “underwrite national prosperity”.

    The funding we have is unstable

    Australia’s university research funding also lacks stability.

    Government only funds part of university research – so universities have to come up with the rest. This adds a layer of vulnerability to our research system.

    One of the key sources of university-generated funding is international student fees.

    This means if there are cuts to overseas students – as we saw during COVID and as we see now due to federal government policy changes – there is a flow-on impact on research funding.

    Repeated calls for more funds have been ignored

    Universities have been asking for more money for years and these requests have been ignored by both sides of politics.

    But while the requests may not change, the global security context is shifting. As Schmidt told the press club,

    We can expect new technologies based around small-scale automated machines, hypersonic missiles and computer warfare to feature prominently if we are to have future conflicts between advanced economies.

    In such a case the research capability of a country will be incredibly important at influencing the overall winners and losers, because once the conflict starts, you ‘have what you got’.

    If we don’t properly fund universities to do cutting-edge research, such as quantum science, robotics and cybersecurity, researchers will go elsewhere to do their work. And some funders might not have Australian interests at heart.

    China, Russia and the European Union have leapt on US President Donald Trump’s recent decisions to defund or halt research programs, creating funds worth billions of dollars to woo scientists and scholars from the US to their own countries.

    What options do we have?

    The Albanese government has commissioned a strategic review of Australia’s research and development sector (led by Tesla chair Robyn Denholm), which is due to report by the end of the year. Part of its remit is to look at “mechanisms to improve coordination and impact of [research and development] funding and programs […].”

    In an ideal world, this will prompt the federal government up its funding of research, to match other countries. But previous unheard calls suggests this is unlikely.

    But we can also be more creative. Perhaps industry can fill the gap with an Australian “Silicon Valley” where emerging industries can be clustered with universities in research partnerships. This is what some authors have called “innovation precincts”.

    We could also look at prioritising industry-based PhDs, so postdoctoral students have a research job when they graduate. Or we could consider reallocating government funds going to other sources, such as defence, on topics of military or intelligence importance.

    This could see university funding pools become broader and deeper, more diversified and better suited to our national interests.

    Brendan Walker-Munro has completed paid consultancies for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and Independent National Security Legislation Monitor. He receives funding from the Australian Government under the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technologies Partnership.

    – ref. Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about Australia’s research capacity – this is why – https://theconversation.com/nobel-laureate-brian-schmidt-is-scared-about-australias-research-capacity-this-is-why-257717

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University

    Franklin64/Shutterstock

    In a decision surprising very few people, Australia’s new environment minister Murray Watt has signed off on an extension for the gas plant at Karratha, part of the enormous North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project.

    The decision had been deferred until after the federal election, given significant environmental concerns around the project.

    This approval means the gas plant at Karratha can now keep running until 2070. The Woodside-operated project has helped to shape Australia’s reputation as one of the biggest suppliers of LNG in the world.

    Watt did not have to consider climate impacts, but rather what damage the extension might do to ancient rock art as well as economic and social matters. His approval is “subject to strict conditions”, which largely focus on air emissions from the project. Critics claim the extension will threaten irreplaceable 50,000 year old rock carvings and petroglyphs.

    The decision will enrage environmentalists. If the project continues to operate, it has been estimated to generate four billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over 50 years.

    Australia has committed to reach net zero emissions by 2050. But the majority of the gas extracted from the North West Shelf will be exported, meaning the huge emissions generated from its extraction, liquefaction, transportation and burning will not be counted domestically.

    But while the Karratha plant now has a lifeline, there’s still an open question about where the gas will come from. For decades, the plant has processed gas from the North Rankin, Perseus and Goodwyn gasfields offshore. These are now running out.

    The main purpose of extending the Karratha plant’s lifespan would be to process gas extracted from giant new gasfields lying underneath the pristine Scott Reef. Approval to open these gasfields has not yet been given because of the significant concerns extraction will damage the reefs.

    What is the North West Shelf Project?

    The North West Shelf development has been operational since the 1980s. Gas is extracted from huge basins located off the Pilbara coast and processed at the Karratha plant on the Burrup Peninsula.

    To date, only a third of the 33 trillion cubic feet of gas in this basin has been extracted.

    Woodside Petroleum is the project operator, holding a one-third shareholding along with Chevron and Shell in what is known as the North West Shelf Joint Venture.

    The project is the largest producer of domestic gas in Western Australia, providing almost two-thirds of the state’s consumption. In the 2023-2024 financial year, it produced gas worth about A$70 billion.

    Domestic consumers are paying much more for this gas than their international counterparts. For example, a $25 billion contract entered into with China in 2002 includes a guarantee prices will remain the same until 2031.

    With the rapid escalation of gas prices, this means China is paying a third of the price paid by domestic consumers. Other markets for the gas include Japan and South Korea, which lack domestic gas resources.

    The Karratha plant has been cleared to run until 2070.
    Hans Wismeijer/Shutterstock

    The ‘transition fuel’ worse than coal

    Gas has long been touted as a transition fuel in a decarbonising economy. But this is questionable on several fronts.

    Rather than replacing coal, LNG may actually be displacing renewables.

    Worse, a recent study showed emissions from LNG are 33% higher than coal over a 20 year period when extraction, piping to a processing facility, compression, shipping, decompression and burning for energy are considered. “Ending the use of LNG should be a global priority,” the report concludes.

    Turning methane-heavy natural gas into a liquid to allow it to be shipped overseas is energy intensive. Large leaks of methane from wells and pipes are common during extraction and transport. When the gas is finally burned to generate energy, it produces carbon dioxide.

    In China, coal’s share of electricity production has been eroded by renewables but not by LNG, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

    From a big picture point of view, climate commitments can’t be met if high-emitting infrastructure keeps being commissioned. Alongside stopping the expansion of fossil fuel projects, existing fossil fuel infrastructure must be retired or retrofitted with cleaner technology.

    Eroding ancient rock art

    The project’s processing plant is located on the Burrup Peninsula, also known as Murujaga. But this peninsula also has about 500,000 rock carvings by First Nations groups, the densest concentration in the world. In 2023, former environment minister Tanya Plibersek announced a bid to give this area World Heritage listing.

    In a new draft decision, the United Nations World Heritage Committee flagged concerns over the bid and referred it back to the Australian government to “ensure the total removal of degrading acidic emissions” and “prevent any further industrial development” near the petroglyphs.

    Gas production and ancient rock art are poorly matched. Research suggests processing plant gases such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ammonia have been gradually eroding the fragile petroglyphs for decades. Successive state and federal governments have failed to act to safeguard this area.

    Gas projects seem untouchable

    Approving the North West Shelf extension is a disaster for the environment, our climate commitments and the fragile and irreplaceable rock art in Murujuga.

    It would seem that despite well-founded concerns on many fronts, big gas projects in Australia are all but untouchable.

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

    – ref. Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070 – https://theconversation.com/green-light-for-gas-north-west-shelf-gas-plant-cleared-to-run-until-2070-257008

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Man charged with possessing child exploitation material

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Man charged with possessing child exploitation material

    Wednesday, 28 May 2025 – 4:50 pm.

    A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged with possession of child exploitation material following the search of property at Kingston today.
    The arrest is the result of a Tasmania Police investigation that was launched after the recent detection of child exploitation material being downloaded.
    The Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET),comprising the High-Risk Child Exploitation Unit and the Australian Federal Police, conducted a search in Kingston today, (May 28) supported by the Community Protection Offender Reporting (CPOR) Team.
    During the search, police located and examined numerous digital devices, leading to charges being laid against a 31-year-old man. He has been bailed to appear in court at a later date.
    Online child abuse is a serious crime type. Tasmania Police, with the support of its partners, is committed to stopping these crimes and keeping children safe.
    If you have seen inappropriate behaviour online that you suspect is child abuse, call police on 131 444, but if the child is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000).
    You can also report concerns online to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) https://www.accce.gov.au/report

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: ADVANT Nctm Selects iManage to Power Flexible, Secure Document and Email Management Across Global Legal Practice

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iManage, the company dedicated to Making Knowledge Work™, today announced that ADVANT Nctm, one of Italy’s leading independent law firms, has selected iManage to transform its approach to document and email management.

    Firm cites iManage’s ability to enhance usability, ensure compliance, and support seamless collaboration across teams and geographies as key factors in selection.

    ADVANT Nctm chose iManage after a thorough evaluation of leading content management solutions. The firm emphasized the need for a platform that is intuitive for legal professionals, supports structured organization, and integrates smoothly with its macOS-based infrastructure. iManage stood out for its ability to support structured, user-friendly organization of content—while also delivering the advanced capabilities firms need to manage information securely, maintain visibility, and work more efficiently—crucial for efficient collaboration and secure knowledge management.

    “ADVANT Nctm has always been characterized by the very high interest in the development of legal tech solutions able of improving the work of lawyers and, consequently, the quality of services offered to clients,” said Patrizia Circosta, lawyer and Knowledge Manager of ADVANT Nctm. “It is with this purpose that the firm has decided to adopt iManage as a document management system to be combined with our iLex platform: we are confident that the integration of the two systems will give excellent results optimizing the quality of our work.”

    More than 350 professionals at ADVANT Nctm will use iManage to coordinate across matters, maintain consistent access to content, and ensure compliance with Italy’s rigorous cybersecurity requirements. The firm plans to integrate iManage into its existing identity and access management platform, enabling secure, streamlined access across teams and practice groups.

    Ounet Sistemi, iManage’s Italian partner, allowed the customer to evaluate the solution in all its components and placed in the context of the Italian market. Ounet Sistemi, thanks to the experience gained through projects carried out in Italy and abroad, guarantees the customer the support and consultancy necessary for the realization of a successful project.

    As part of the ADVANT alliance—with member firms in Germany and France that also use iManage—ADVANT Nctm will benefit from greater alignment in tools and processes, strengthening cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing. The implementation underscores the firm’s commitment to leveraging trusted, enterprise-grade solutions to drive better business outcomes through secure, centralized knowledge management.

    “ADVANT Nctm’s selection of iManage reflects a growing demand across Europe for document and email management solutions that combine user-friendly design with robust governance,” said Suzanne Walmsley, Senior Director of European Sales at iManage. “Our AI-enabled platform is purpose-built to help knowledge workers operate smarter, faster, and safer—making it an ideal fit for firms like ADVANT Nctm that are focused on long-term productivity and client service.”

    Meet Us at Future Lawyer Europe – Milan

    iManage will be exhibiting at Future Lawyer Europe on May 28–29, 2025, at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan. Visit us at Stand #2 to explore how our platform is helping legal professionals modernize knowledge work with smarter, more secure document and email management.

    About iManage
    iManage is dedicated to Making Knowledge Work™. Our cloud-native platform is at the center of the knowledge economy, enabling every organization to work more productively, collaboratively, and securely. Built on more than 20 years of industry experience, iManage helps leading organizations manage documents and emails more efficiently, protect vital information assets, and leverage knowledge to drive better business outcomes. As your strategic business partner, we employ our award-winning AI-enabled technology, an extensive partner ecosystem, and a customer-centric approach to provide support and guidance you can trust to make knowledge work for you. iManage is relied on by more than one million professionals at 4,000 organizations around the world. Visit www.imanage.com to learn more.

    Follow iManage via:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imanage
    X: https://x.com/imanageinc
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iManage 

    Press contact:
    Alicia Saragosa, iManage
    press@imanage.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Proposed Differential Rates for 2025/26

    Source: South Australia Police

    The City of Wanneroo’s Proposed Differential Rates for 2025-2026 are now available for public comment.

    In accordance with Section 6.36 of the Local Government Act 1995, the City of Wanneroo hereby gives notice of its intention to adopt the following rates in the dollar for each differential rating category in the 2025-26 Financial Year which is a 3.50% overall rate increase,

    To achieve overall 3.5% rate increase, it is proposed to increase Residential, Rural and Mining rates categories by 3.0%, whereas Commercial/Industrial rates categories are proposed to increase by 5.5%: –

    Rate category Minimum rate GRV rate in $ (cents) UV rate in $ (cents)
    Residential Improved
    With lesser minimum for Strata Titled Caravan Parks

    $1,138

    $166

    7.0902

    0.3761
    Residential Vacant $949 14.1803 0.5692
    Commercial/ Industrial Improved
         		 $1,588 8.4541 0.3085
    Commercial/ Industrial Vacant
         		 $1,588 8.2585 0.3425
    Rural & Mining Improved $1,131 – 0.3710
    Rural & Mining Vacant $1,069 – 0.4855

    Information relating to the Objectives and Reasons for each proposed Differential Rates is available is available below.

    Submissions in respect of the proposed Differential Rates and any related matters are invited from Electors or Ratepayers. 

    Views can be submitted by:

    • using the online form 
    • or by mail to the Chief Executive Officer at City of Wanneroo, Locked Bag 1, Wanneroo WA 6946.

    Comments must be received before 5pm on Thursday 19 June 2025.

    William Parker

    Chief Executive Officer

    Objects and Reasons for 2025-2026 Proposed Differential Rates

    The overall objective of the proposed rates in the 2025-2026 Budget is to provide for the net funding requirements of the City of Wanneroo’s various programs, services and facilities.

    The Objects and Reasons that have been proposed are:

    GRV & UV Residential Improved 

    The rate in the dollar and minimum rate have been set on the basis that ratepayers make a reasonable contribution to the cost of local government services and facilities available to residents that are not available to those in the Commercial/Industrial and Rural & Mining categories. 

    The lesser minimum for Strata Titled Caravan Parks is set recognising the unique purpose of these properties while still ensuring a reasonable contribution to the cost of local government services and facilities available to residents.

    GRV & UV Residential Vacant

    The rate in the dollar and minimum rate have been set in an effort to promote development of these properties thereby stimulating growth and development in the community. 

    GRV & UV Commercial/Industrial Improved

    The rate in the dollar and minimum rate for all Commercial/Industrial Improved property has been set to provide an acceptable standard of infrastructure and parking needs due to the greater volumes of people and vehicular traffic.

    GRV & UV Commercial/Industrial Vacant

    The rate in the dollar and minimum rate for all Commercial/Industrial Vacant land has been set in an effort to promote the development of these properties by attracting business and industry to the City thereby stimulating growth and development in the community.

    UV Rural & Mining Improved

    The rate in the dollar and the minimum rate have been set with an intention to foster and encourage farming and horticultural activities in the City of Wanneroo thereby stimulating growth and development in the community.  

    UV Rural & Mining Vacant

    The rate in the dollar and the minimum rate have been set with an intention to encourage the development of vacant land thereby stimulating growth and development in the community
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • Trump administration moves to cut all remaining federal contracts with Harvard

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration plans to terminate the federal government’s remaining contracts with Harvard University, according to a letter sent to federal agencies on Tuesday.

    The letter, from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), directs all federal agencies to review and potentially terminate or reallocate their contracts with Harvard, which an official valued at about $100 million.

    Harvard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    The move marked the latest instance of the Republican administration attempting to undermine the financial stability and global standing of the oldest and wealthiest U.S. university after it pushed back on government demands for vast policy changes.

    The government has already terminated nearly $3 billion in federal research grants for the Ivy League school and moved last week to revoke its ability to enroll international students. Those roughly 6,800 students make up about 27% of Harvard’s total enrollment.

    A federal judge in Boston on Friday temporarily blocked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from revoking foreign student enrollment ahead of a Thursday hearing. During a brief hearing on Tuesday, a U.S. Department of Justice lawyer said the administration is complying with that order and was weighing its options.

    Even so, the Trump administration has ordered its missions abroad to stop scheduling new appointments for student and exchange visitor visa applicants.

    Several hundred demonstrators, including Harvard students and teachers, gathered at the university on Tuesday to show support for foreign students and protest the Trump funding cuts.

    Following graduation events led by Harvard President Alan Garber, one of the protesting students, Jacob Miller, climbed onto a makeshift stage and said the ban on international enrollments had nothing to do with combating antisemitism, which was given as one of the official reasons for the crackdown on foreign students. “We will not allow our identities to be invoked to destroy Harvard,” said Miller, who is Jewish. “If there is anything to learn from the Jewish history, it’s that when we push people out of our schools because of their identity, it’s a symptom of a morally bankrupt politics.”

    Another protest organizer, Harvard student Rae Trainer, said many international students were afraid to demonstrate because they risk deportations. Some international students recorded statements to be read by classmates who are U.S. citizens.

    The GSA’s letter accused the school of engaging in discriminatory admissions practices even after the U.S. Supreme Court, in its 2023 decision ending affirmative action in higher education, rejected Harvard’s use of race as an admissions factor to boost campus diversity.

    The letter from Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of the GSA’s federal acquisition service, also accused Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Harvard of discriminatory hiring practices and of failing to protect Jewish students from harassment.

    The GSA sent the letter to federal agencies Tuesday morning, said an administration official familiar with the matter. The letter directs agencies to submit a list of contract cancellations by June 6 and says contracts for critical services would be transitioned to other vendors.

    Harvard, which is suing to challenge the administration’s actions, has argued that its rush to punish the school has run afoul of various procedures and violates free speech rights under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment by trying to assert control over its staff, curriculum and enrollment.

    Garber, the Harvard president, said in an NPR interview released on Tuesday that despite campus problems that it needs to address, the administration’s decisions to cancel grant funding were “perplexing.”

    “As long as there has been a United States of America, Harvard has thought that its role is to serve the nation,” he said.

    (Reuters)