#joint defense privilege

[andrewjbernhard]

The Common Interest Privilege Against Disclosure – A Quick Legal Note

This note discusses the common interests privilege - a unique legal derivative of the attorney-client and work-product privilege from disclosure of information and documents under subpoena or discovery.

This note discusses the common interests privilege – a unique legal derivative of the attorney-client and work-product privilege from disclosure of information and documents under subpoena or discovery. The common interests privilege, also known as the joint defense privilege or pooled information privilege, is an exception to waiver of confidentiality after disclosure to technical third parties.…

[mariasont]

can you do a story where hotch accidentally calls Y/N by her middle name and the rest of the bau are like "👁️👄👁️ who's (insert name)?" and then a cute or fluffy moment happens where Y/N's like "oh yeah only hotch calls me that" PLS PLS PLSSSS

SECRET NICKNAMES - A.H

a/n: the emojis are so accurate im crying you know that’s exactly how they reacted 😭 but loved loved loved writing this one. slightly self indulgent because my middle name is grace <3

masterlist

pairings: aaron hotchner x fem!reader

warnings: just sticky sweet fluff & morgan being an instigator but what’s new!!

wc: 0.9k

It had been a long day. The conference room was a mess. It kind of resembled a battlefield of ideas and failed theories. Evidence photos lay in uneven stacks, some forgotten at the edges of the table while others remained underlined with question marks and red ink. The faint scratch of a pen and the occasional sigh were the only sounds. It was late, and exhaustion was beginning to creep in. Eyes drooped, postures sagged, but no one had yet dared to suggest calling it a night yet. 

You leaned back slowly, your chair tilting just enough to let you stretch your arms above your head. The weariness in your muscles felt almost tangible, meshing into every joint like a weight you let go of. Across from you, Hotch stood still as a statue, his arms crossed and gaze cutting through the evidence board.

"Alright, enough for tonight," he finally said firmly. "We'll reconvene tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. sharp."

The team didn't need to be told twice, practically jumping to their feet. Papers were scooped up, pens clicked shut, and chairs scraped back as everyone made their way out. But before you could slip away, Hotch's voice rang out, cutting cleanly through the room.

"Grace, can I see you for a moment?"

The team froze mid-movement. Morgan glanced over one shoulder, one brow raised, while Garcia’s head popped up from where she was stacking papers, lips parting in confusion. Reid, already halfway to the door, paused and turned, tilting his head like he was trying to solve a puzzle he didn’t have all the pieces to.

JJ blinked, mouth “Grace?” to herself, clearly trying to place the name.

Emily squinted slightly before giving voice to what everyone was thinking. “Who’s Grace?”

You blinked, your brain scrambling for an explanation as your eyes darted to Hotch, who seemed oblivious to the chaos he had just cause. Typical man.

Clearing your throat, you forced a sheepish smile.

“That would be me,” you admitted, lifting a hand awkwardly. “Grace is my middle name. Surprise!”

The room remained suspiciously quiet, and you could practically feel the questions they all were about to voice.

“Hotch calls me that sometimes,” you added quickly, somehow able to keep your voice semi-light despite the burn in your cheeks. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Oh, this is interesting,” Morgan said, leisurely sinking back into his chair with folded arms.

JJ squinted. “Is this some sort of secret nickname situation?”

Emily raised a brow. “Does this happen often? Hotch calling you Grace?”

“So, Grace,” Morgan drawled, clearly enjoying himself. “Care to explain why Hotch gets to call you that? Special privileges or—,”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” you cut in, your voice cracked and it was unfortunately too loud to come off as anything but defensive. “Like I said, it’s not a big deal. He just—he just does sometimes, okay?”

“Oh it’s a big deal,” Garcia cut in dramatically. “What else don’t we know about you two?”

“Alright, enough.” Hotch cut in finally, shaking his head. “I told you all to go home. So go.”

Morgan made it halfway to the door before turning back.

“Y’know Hotch, if you wanted us out so bad, you could’ve just said it earlier. No need for the theatrics. We get it—‘Grace’ needs your undivided attention.”

Garcia gasped. “Morgan, you can’t just say that!”

But the damage was done, and the team left in a flurry of giggles and teasing comments, leaving you standing there, flustered and glaring at Hotch.

The second the door closed, you whirled around and smacked his shoulder.

“What was that for?”

“You know what that was for,” you said, crossing your arms. “Calling me Grace in front of them? Do you want me to be interrogated?”

His faint smile broke through. “It wasn’t intentional.

You shot him another glare which only served to turn that smile of his into a full blown laugh.

“I’m sorry, honey,” he said, corners of his eyes crinkling. “I wasn’t thinking—it’s the sleep deprevation.”

Before you could respond, he reached out, gently grabbing your face and smooshing your cheeks together. You were sure you resembled a fish, brows drawn, trying to remain scowling at him, but the position made it hard.

“Truce?” he murmured, leaning down to kiss you.

Your resolve crumbled the second his lips touched yours (It always did). The warmth of his touch practically seemed into your skin, and your muscles melted against him like butter in the sun. When he pulled back you stared up at him, dazed and breathless, trying to remember why you were mad.

“That was—,” You cleared your throat, fighting to ridiculous smile threatening to appear. “You can’t just do that to avoid getting in trouble.”

“Did it work?”

You huffed, crossing your arms. “I’ll think about it.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, pretending to weigh your options with the seriousness of someone deciding on a life-or-death matter.

“Alright,” you said slowly, drawing out each word. “I’ve thought about it.”

Grasping the lapels of his suit jacket, you pulled him down to you, pressing your lips to his in a kiss that left no room for argument. When you pulled back, his smirk was still in place but his eyes were softer now and filled with something you couldn’t quite place.

“But don’t think this gets you off the hook next time.”

He chuckled. “Noted.”

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[mercutio-the-velaryon]

A Close Reading of Viktor's 'ascended' Form

Disclaimer: These are very jumbled thoughts but I've been trying to articulate this for a while so I'm just baring it to the public flaws and all.

I am being dead serious when I say that Melvik is a lens of viewing that serves to recentre Mel as a major character and reassert her value in the hextech trio dynamic. I will be utilsing this lens to analyse Viktor's choice to make his 'perfected' beings carry Mel's attributes.

Immediately, I will preface by saying, that although I read Jayce and Viktor's relationship as romantic, this choice has nothing to do with Jayce, at least, not in relation to feelings of romantic jealousy or romantic insecurity.

So, what does it mean when Viktor wears Mel's white and gold? I think it shows that he views Mel as the epitome of Piltover priivilege and the personification of the social barrier he could not supercede through hard work and picking himself up by his own bootstraps.

The scene above where Mel seems to be singularly be imploring Jayce to militarise Hextech as defensive action is essential to understanding why Viktor views her this way.

In this sequence, Mel is originally conversing with Viktor and Jayce on an equal physical level until she presents her ideal plan of action then she stands straight and focuses more on convincing Jayce rather than Viktor. This is not an attempt to be cruel or malicious, though it very well be an expression of her irritation because in Mel's eyes Viktor's reasonable protest seems like a juvenile outburst. As a Noxian and a Medarda Mel is accustomed to war and bloodshed she does not want the carnage of such an event to bring Piltover to ruin. However, she is also painstakingly aware that losing a war would be a death sentence. The stakes are life and death, and I believe based on what I understand of Mel's character that she would not attempt to bypass Viktor's opposition in more normal circumstances. She respects him to an extent but not more than she respects her position, her legacy and not more than she fears the consequences of losing a war.

Additionally, I view the way she stands and directs attention at Jayce as a demonstration of how she is by nature of the social system always above him. That she and Jayce, are classist as is everyone conditioned and socialised in this system, and for them as citizens of Piltover, as members of the bourgeoisie, and the council their dismissal of Viktor is not that active of a choice, its a reflex, its a manifestation of their biases. Which is terrible in its own right. Viktor discovers in this scene, that Jayce can and will go over his head despite hextech being a joint creation because his social positioning is just higher than his is. It always was and it always will be. These are unchangeable factors and immovable dynamics.

That is to say, that I think Mel's show of power in this scene, her long-term investment in hextech as well as very likely witnessing her political maneuvers from a distance during his time as Heimerdinger's assistant has cemented Mel in Viktor's mind as the paragon of Piltover privilege.

I like to imagine this reaction to Mel's powers "the arcane stirs within you" as a twisted delight. Magic is a natural force, its wild and uncharted and its presence in Mel has this undoing effect, it perplexes her, to use it she physically exerts herself, it makes her bare her teeth. It's a side of Mel, Viktor would have never witnessed, in her struggle with this he finds a glimmer of kindredness that briefly enthralls him.

When he creates his ideal form, a white and gold, sleek and slim faceless robot with a gentle elegent gait and manner of movement and is seeking to conform the entire world to it, know that Viktor in his mind is equalising both himself and the rest of the world to what he considers the apex of privilege, therefore ridding the world of social hierarchy, difference and struggle.

The grand irony of this act is that he ends up bypassing the autonomy of literally everyone by subjecting them to this much like Mel bypassed him. Meaning, he hasn't rid the world of this hierarchy at all, he's put all these people beneath him and robbed them of choice and freedom.

Separate Melvik spiel:

Mel and Viktor's inherent relationship to each other through nature, disposition and as narrative foils is just so meticulous I can no longer genuinely view Arcane as a text without noticing the absence of an established personal dynamic between them. The groundwork for a romance is embedded in the text, their relation to each other is already by itself canonically quite romantic, all of their qualities and attributes are either contrasting or is eerily similar, everything about them serves to say something about the other within the constraints of the Arcane narrative (I doubt this will continue in game and in the follow up series). His admiration of her is tainted by his resentfulness at her position and the way she's wielded it. So many characters in media have kissed for less than that.

[amarynthian-chronicles]

Hello, hello!

Welcome, make yourself comfortable, here are some cakes, tea and hot chocolate, and enjoy your stay. In this little pocket dimension of a blog, you will mostly find posts about our Celestial Jesters and other FNAF content, along with space-themed aesthetic, writing, some silly whimsical quotes, comfy vibes and similar.

I shall be tagging my own writing posts under "jester's privilege chronicles" (these are especially for my longer works) and "amary's chronicles" (these are especially for my shorter little scenes), to make it easier to navigate or find them. For answered asks the tags are "amary answers" and "amary speaks", to find them easily in case they get buried in reblogs. As of recent, I made the tag "amary's art" for my doodles, although I am still a beginner.

Under the cut are links to my AO3 fics and summaries of all the current stories, if you are interested!

(Additionally, I have also written a few joint AUs with the amazing @ravenwriter16 @robinette-green @lets-zofifi-stuff @amymaleneart How to Capture a Nymph's Heart: Satyr's Guide to Romance (nymph y/n and satyr dca au) and Furever Home (werewolf y/n and shepherds dca au) )

Have a lovely day and enjoy your stay!

Jester's Privilege Chronicles series:

Sound the Bells: You are a mermaid in charge of the daunting task of managing the sea and your court consists of playful twin Leviathans and an uncooperative Kraken. You also have the disadvantage of being an utter disaster at this mermaid business and you live on land in human form, having the swimming skills of a rock.

Your sea monsters are not too thrilled with you living on land, so they love to cause shipwrecks and general mayhem to get your attention. You try to place a stop to this by having them spend a month with you in the town of Celestial Bay disguised as animatronics.

Sun is thrilled to explore human technology, Moon prowls the night threatening city council members into making better legal acts to protect the sea against pollution, and Eclipse's natural protective Kraken instincts are getting a tad bit out of hand and making him the friendly neighbourhood serial killer. He loves quick solutions to complex problems.

Officer Vanessa is the only one brave enough to keep knocking on your door for some explanations. She is also in charge of a very confused police unit that really needs to get some sleep.

Extended Contract: You are a witch that fell for the oldest trick in the book by giving your name to the mischievous Fae princes of the Celestial Court. Such an inconvenience on what was supposed to be a typical office night. You are honestly not having it. They, however, do seem quite happy about having you. You decide to make a deal with the Fae King to regain your freedom. The only thing that is functional in the whole situation is your phone signal in the Fae Kingdom.

Tip the Scales: You are a charismatic defense lawyer in a constant competition with two ruthless prosecutors that do not understand your ideals about criminals deserving a second chance. You are also housemates with a certain bitter and retired judge, who has a habit of operating at night as a cloaked figure known as the Judge of the Damned, serving justice as he deems fit according to his own moral ideals. In order to solve his frequent habit of going after your clients, you two had established a game of Tip the Scales to keep a balance of which person deserves redemption and who is condemned to damnation. Things get complicated when an old friend gets wrongfully accused. You do all in your power to convince your prosecutor rivals to secretly cooperate with you and help clear his name before you lose the game.

Our Guest: You arrive at a sinister and luxurious castle with the innocent intention of checking why its mysterious residents haven't been paying any taxes or utilities for the past several centuries. Very useful excuse for a vampire hunter to have when trying to do some good old infiltrating. The three vampire lords, however, fully intend to capture and seduce you, possibly give your pretty neck a bite or two, but all of that does get a bit complicated when you are being such a tease and constantly asking them about their financial books. Will they succeed in the task of making you theirs, dear Y/N? And are they onto your little schemes?

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Joshua Keating at Vox:

Today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was back in a very familiar building. Not only was he making his fourth address to a joint session of Congress — breaking Winston Churchill’s record for foreign leaders — he’s also been a presence in the building’s halls since serving as a diplomat in the early 1980s. Since he made his first speech to Congress in 1996, Netanyahu has been almost as much a fixture of politics in America as in Israel.

Things felt different today. It’s not just that Netanyahu is a controversial figure, one who drew thousands of protesters onto the streets of Washington. That’s not new; Netanyahu’s 2011 speech to Congress was interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protester in the chamber. What is new is that he has become an increasingly marginalized one. Even a few weeks ago, when Netanyahu’s speech was announced, it had the makings of a marquee political event. Today, it was overshadowed by President Joe Biden’s highly anticipated Wednesday night speech to address his decision to drop out of the presidential election. Dozens of lawmakers — around half of Congress’s Democrats — skipped Netanyahu’s speech altogether.

Soon-to-retire Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin’s presence behind Netanyahu on the rostrum attested to how much of a partisan figure Netanyahu has become. Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, one of whom would normally have been in that seat, all declined the role. Netanyahu, who has been Israel’s prime minister for 17 of the last 30 years, has done more than anyone to make support for the country an increasingly partisan issue in the United States, in part through actions like his speech to Congress in 2015. That time, he was invited by congressional Republicans to lobby against the Iran nuclear deal then being negotiated by the Obama administration in what was considered a remarkably partisan speech for a foreign leader. In today’s address, by contrast, Netanyahu made little news. It was a speech that gave little indication of a plan to end the war in Gaza, and likely undermined diplomatic efforts underway to do so. It was a notably defensive speech for Netanyahu, devoted more to refuting criticism of Israel than to charting a way forward out of the morass it has found itself in. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States.”

What Netanyahu said — and what he’s doing

Netanyahu recounted the horrors of Hamas’s October 7 attacks and vowed to the families of hostages currently being held in Gaza that he “would not rest until all their loved ones are home.” Not all of those families may be inclined to take him at his word. Many of them are calling for the prime minister to accept a ceasefire deal to secure the hostages’ release, but today Netanyahu vowed that “Israel will fight until we destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and its rule in Gaza and bring all our hostages home,” adding, “That’s what total victory means and we will settle for nothing less.” Netanyahu also said, as he has in several previous remarks, that “[Israel] must retain overriding control [in Gaza] to ensure that Gaza never again poses a security threat to Israel” — a demand likely to be a nonstarter for any ceasefire deal. Despite that, Netanyahu has said in recent days that a ceasefire deal may be near, and the deal currently being negotiated is likely to be the focus of the prime minister’s meeting at the White House with Biden on Thursday. The Biden administration has tended not to respond directly to Netanyahu’s public statements on the deal, and this time was no exception. Asked if Netanyahu’s remarks made that deal less likely, a senior US administration official told reporters on Wednesday afternoon, “We were in the Situation Room doing some other stuff, so I have not seen the speech.”

[...]

How to lose friends and influence

Netanyahu praised President Biden for his “half a century of friendship to Israel” and noted that the president describes himself as a “proud Zionist.” But that only served to highlight the shrinking number of Democratic politicians who would publicly describe themselves that way. Polls have consistently shown a deep partisan divide opening up over sympathy toward Israel. He also thanked former president and current Republican nominee Donald Trump for actions in support of Israel during his presidency, including recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. Netanyahu will be traveling to Florida to meet with Trump (and possibly celebrate the birthday of his son, who lives in Miami). Still, while Trump has not exactly turned on Israel, he has clearly soured somewhat on Netanyahu, who he is still angry at for congratulating Biden on his election victory in 2020. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that Trump posted a friendly letter from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the day he announced the Netanyahu meeting.

Yesterday’s joint address to Congress from war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu is further proof that his support is restricted to hard-line pro-Israeli supporters in the USA.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) had the right response to his grotesquely hateful speech with the “War Criminal” sign.

[crispbake]

jonhshi headcanons you say?

- kenshi pinches johnny. a lot. as a joke, as a corrective action when johnny's being odd about something, for no reason at all. it's like the urge to bite, but... pinch.

- in return johnny gets to be a biter. not even just in bed, everywhere (except for around other people). johnny's the type to just give into the urge to gently gnaw on kenshi and kenshi lets him. lovingly.

- johnny is wildly defensive of kenshi. kenshi asked that johnny just not joke about his blindness for a while, and johnny was happy to do so. that also included, apparently, johnny snarling at anyone who DOES make blind jokes at kenshi's expense.

- they're t4t and tism4tism.

- they're also, even though it doesn't have a term yet, both disabled. kenshi being blind obviously, and johnny i actually headcanon as being hypermobile. very hypermobile. and there's really only so much being very very strong can do when you're that hypermobile and your joints are determined to get weird, so johnny probably does have occasional pain flare-up days. they'll stay inside and take care of each other

- or, if the responsibilities that day are unavoidable, johnny will take a cane or crutch with him to town, and kenshi wil tag along, returning the favor of biting anyone who makes a joke at johnny's expense (that johnny obviously isn't okay with)

- kenshi is scary dog privileges

- johnny, when he's the guard, is creepy cat privileges (i made that up but there's no better way to describe it)

- to expand on johnny being hypermobile- no grown-ass man in his late 20s is hitting the splits that fucking easily, painlessly, without prior stretching. he's just death dropping in some of his animations. and i just don't think he has a stretching routine for that. it's his party trick, something he can just *do*.

- kenshi finds johnny's flexibility wildly hot

- (when it's not causing him pain, ofc)

- kenshi's tattoos weren't done himself but at some point johnny unlocks the lore that kenshi apprenticed under one of the tattoo artists in the yakuza, and actually graduated to full artist before he left the yakuza. kenshi is a seasoned tattoo artist

- johnny jokes about opening a flower shop across from him so they can be just like the stories. kenshi doesn't understand the reference.

-they have an actual conversation at one point about the after-- once kenshi has completed his quest, and johnny's career is fully winding down. the plan is to get a flat above a storefront, and turn the storefront into a tattoo shop.

- kenshi wears sleeveless turtleneck compression shirts when working out and johnny fans himself like a victorian maiden every time

- (last one i prommy) johnny once wore a clownish formal outfit to the gala celebrating the success of the ninja mime movie. to this very day, kenshi maintains that one was his favorite outfit johnny's ever worn on the red carpet.

i am going to respond to every single one of these damnit

THE PINCHING/BITING IS SO ACCURATE. like i cannot explain what it is about it but that’s just so them. they do different things but it’s the same concept ghdjdkwkw

YES! johnny is super defensive of kenshi not because he thinks he needs to be, he knows kenshi can hold his own, but because he cares about him too much. i’m sure at first when it was still raw johnny never made any comments but i’m sure it reaches a point where kenshi starts joking about it himself and assures johnny he’s come to terms with it. but if anyone else makes a comment OOOH it’s over for them.

i rlly do love trans headcannons for them. whether it’s t4t or one of them is trans while the other is cis i do not care i eat that up every time. I ALSO FOR SURE SEE TISM4TISM!! johnny has the hyper fixations/knows random facts autism while kenshi has the not really sure how to handle your emotions autism. i think he gets overstimulated too which is also from his other senses being heightened once vision was gone.

I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HIM BEING HYPERMOBILE BUT IT MAKES TOTAL SENSE! he’s doing the splits on the battlefield i mean come on?!?!??!? (i saw you mentioned this later on LMFAO see u get it)

yes 100% johnny gets scary dog privileges cause of kenshi. too many fans in his face? kenshi doesn’t even EYES for god’s sake and i’m sure a look in their direction will scare them off at least somewhat. and johnny is for sure creepy cat. it’s like “can i come over and be weird and offputting” literally him.

oh yeah the flexibility while it has its downsides for sure comes in handy sometimes. (in bed) i know kenshi is manhandling him into wild positions and johnny loves it. so does kenshi of course.

I’VE POSTED ABOUT THE FACT THAT I DO THINK KENSHI HAS AN INTEREST IN TATTOOS THAT ARENT HIS OWN! he could definitely tattoo johnny i just know he has steady hands and it would come out so awesome.

kenshi not getting the flowershop thing is so real johnny definitely then went off on a long tangent explaining it. i feel like they could just be grocery shopping and something gets johnny going and he goes off on a long spiel as they’re walking around, i’m sure this is an often occurrence. kenshi loves listening to him talk but again, the heightened senses, he probably does occasionally need to rest his head so he kisses johnny to shut him up LMFAO (and it always works that man is so easily distracted)

TATTOO SHOP DOWNSTAIRS FLOWER SHOP UPSTAIRS!

oh yeah johnny loves the compression shirts for sure kenshi looks good in anything. but he does wild for kenshi in short sleeves. he doesn’t wear them super often to cover up his tattoos but when he does goddamn. johnny feels like the luckiest man in the world.

JOHNNY IN A CLOWN THEMED FORMAL OUTFIT FOR THE NINJA MIME PREMIERE MIGHT JUST BE MY FAVORITE ONE OF THESE LMAO. saved the best for last. johnny for sure wears eccentric and colorful outfits on the red carpet. i mean have you seen his MK skins? this man has style he isn’t playing around.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED :)

[zerosecurity]

Akira Ransomware Breaches Over 250 Global Entities, Rakes in $42 Million

A joint cybersecurity advisory issued by CISA, FBI, Europol, and the Dutch NCSC-NL has uncovered the staggering scale of the Akira ransomware campaign. Since early 2023, the nefarious Akira operators have compromised more than 250 organizations worldwide, extorting a whopping $42 million in ransom payments. Akira's Prolific Targeting Across Industries The Akira ransomware group has been actively infiltrating entities across diverse sectors, including education, finance, and real estate. Staying true to the double extortion playbook, the threat actors exfiltrate sensitive data before encrypting the victims' systems, amplifying the pressure for a ransom payment. Early Akira versions, coded in C++, appended the .akira extension to encrypted files. However, from August 2023 onward, certain attacks deployed Megazord, a Rust-based variant that encrypts data with the .powerranges extension. Investigations reveal the perpetrators interchangeably using both Akira and Megazord, including the updated Akira_v2. Initial Access and Privilege Escalation The cybercriminals exploit various entry points, such as unprotected VPNs, Cisco vulnerabilities (CVE-2020-3259 and CVE-2023-20269), RDP exposures, spear phishing, and stolen credentials. Post-compromise, they create rogue domain accounts, like itadm, to elevate privileges, leveraging techniques like Kerberoasting and credential scraping with Mimikatz and LaZagne. Disabling Security Controls and Lateral Movement To evade detection and facilitate lateral movement, Akira operators disable security software using tools like PowerTool to terminate antivirus processes and exploit vulnerabilities. They employ various tools for reconnaissance, data exfiltration (FileZilla, WinRAR, WinSCP, RClone), and C2 communication (AnyDesk, Cloudflare Tunnel, RustDesk, Ngrok). Sophisticated Encryption The advisory highlights Akira's "sophisticated hybrid encryption scheme" combining ChaCha20 stream cipher with RSA public-key cryptography for efficient and secure encryption tailored to file types and sizes. As the Akira ransomware campaign continues to wreak havoc, the joint advisory provides crucial indicators of compromise (IoCs) to help organizations bolster their defenses against this formidable threat. Read the full article

[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: B-1s join F-22s and South Korean F-35s, in the latest Bomber Task Force mission

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/04/2023 - 12:00 in Military, War Zones

A pair of B-1B Lancers and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors fighters flew alongside F-35 stealth jets from the Republic of Korea on February 1 - the third bomber flight near the Korean Peninsula in recent months.

The jets also trained on February 3 with the USAF F-22s, U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs and Republic of Korea Air Force F-35As (ROK).

The B-1s later flew to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to start another deployment of the Bomber Task Force.

The Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Korea announced the first round of joint air training on February 2, saying that the aircraft met over the Yellow Sea, west of the Peninsula. The South Korean Air Force announced the second round on February 3, according to several media reports, noting that it also took place in the Yellow Sea.

A spokesman for the Pacific Air Forces confirmed that the B-1 came from Ellsworth Air Base, South Dakota, and the F-22 came from Elmendorf-Richardson Joint Base. A PACAF statement announced the mission of the Bomber Task Force (BTF).

The combined flight marks the first combined air training between ROK, or South Korean Air Force, and the U.S. Air Force in 2023, although American bombers have become a frequent sight in the skies near South Korea recently.

At the end of December, the B-52 Stratofortresses of Barksdale Air Base, Louisiana, flew next to F-22s and the F-35s and F-15s of ROK around Jeju Island, south of the peninsula. And in November, Ellsworth's B-1s flew over the Peninsula for the first time in five years.

In both cases, bomber flights represented demonstrations of force soon after North Korea performed missile tests.

These most recent flights occurred just a few days after Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visited Seoul and promised, alongside South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, to increase the size and scope of joint US-ROK military exercises. This includes greater participation of fifth generation fighters and strategic bombers.

Ellsworth's B-1s last participated in a BTF in the Indo-Pacific between October and November last year.

“It is a privilege to be back in the Pacific area of responsibility and be at the forefront to dissuade our opponents and support our allies,” Major Abraham Moreland, deputy director of operations of the 34th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron, said in a statement. "The relationships we have with our allies in the region are crucial to the security of the Indo-Pacific, and the partnerships we build while we are here give our crews the critical training and experience they need to succeed in this environment."

U.S. missions reassure South Korea and respond to the growing pressure from North Korea, where Kim Jong Un intensified missile tests and recently launched drones on South Korean airspace.

B-1B b Bomber on the runway of Andersen Air Base in Guam.

With the increase in tensions, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol caused controversy by saying that his country may be forced to ask the U.S. to redeploy nuclear weapons on the peninsula or to develop its own nuclear weapons. And a recent independent bipartisan commission recommended that the two countries begin “pre-decisive” discussions about what would be needed to redistribute tactical nuclear

Source: Air Force & Space Magazine

Tags: Military AviationB-1B LancerF-22 RaptorF-35 Lightning IIROKAF - Republic of Korea Air Force/South Korean Air ForceUSAF - United States Air Force / US Air ForceWar Zones - Korean Peninsula

Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[priafey]

i realized this sounds insane if i don't elaborate. so here.

taken from Chapter 4 of "Killing Hope" by William Blum

alt text below the cut

By early 1950, the United States had provided the Philippines with over $200 million of military equipment and supplies, a remarkable sum for that time, and was in addition to the construction of various military facilities. The Joint US Military Advisory Group (JUS-MAG) reorganized the Philippine intelligence capability and defense department, put its chosen man, Ramon Magsaysay, at its head, and formed the Philippine army into battalion combat teams trained for counter-insurgency warfare. The Philippines was to be a laboratory experiment for this unconventional type of combat. The methods and the terminology, such as "search-and-destroy" and "pacification", were later to become infamous in Vietnam.

By September, when Lt. Col. Edward G. Lansdale arrived in the Philippines, the civil war had all the markings of a long, drawn-out affair, with victory not in sight for either side. Ostensibly, Lansdale was just another American military adviser attached to JUSMAG, but in actuality he was the head of CIA clandestine and paramilitary operations in the country. His apparent success in the Philippines was to make him a recognized authority in counter-insurgency.

In his later reminiscences about this period in his life, Lansdale relates his surprise at hearing from informed Filipino civilian friends about how repressive the Quirino government was, that its atrocities matched those of (or attributed to) the Huks, that the government was "rotten with corruption" (down to the policeman in the street, Lansdale observed on his own), that Quirino himself had been elected the previous year through "extensive fraud", and that "the Huks were right", they were the "wave of the future", and violence was the only way for the people to get a government of their own. (The police, wrote a correspondent for the Saturday Evening Post, were "bands of uniformed thieves and rapists, more feared than bandits … the army was little better.")

Lansdale was undeterred. He had come to do a job. Accordingly, he told himself that if the Huks took over there would only be another form of injustice by another privileged few, backed by even crueller force. By the next chapter, he had convinced himself that he was working on the side of those committed to "defend human liberty in the Philippines”.

As a former advertising man, Lansdale was no stranger to the use of market research, motivation techniques, media, and deception. In CIA parlance, such arts fall under the heading of "psychological warfare". To this end, Lansdale fashioned a unit called the Civil Affairs Office. Its activities were based on the premise one both new and suspect to most American military officers that a popular guerrilla army cannot be defeated by force alone.

Lansdale's team conducted a careful study of the superstitions of the Filipino peasants living in Huk areas: their lore, taboos, and myths were examined for clues to the appropriate appeals that could wean them from supporting the insurgents. In one operation, Lansdale's men flew over these areas in a small plane hidden by a cloud cover and broadcast in Tagalog mysterious curses on any villagers who dared to give the Huks food or shelter. The tactic reportedly succeeded into starving some Huk units into surrender.

Another Lansdale-initiated "psywar" operation played on the superstitious dread in the Philippine countryside of the asuang, a mythical vampire. A psywar squad entered a town and planted rumors that an asuang lived in the neighboring hill where the Huks were based, a location from which government forces were anxious to have them out. Two nights later, after giving the rumors time to circulate among Huk sympathizers in the town and make their way up the hill, the psywar squad laid an ambush for the rebels along a trail used by them. When a Huk patrol passed, the ambushers silently snatched the last man, punctured his neck vampire-fashion with two holes, held his body by the heels until the blood drained out, and put the corpse back on the trail. When the Huks, as superstitious as any other Filipinos, discovered the bloodless comrade, they fled from the region.

[darkmaga-returns]

By Palestine Chronicle Staff

The Israeli Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee endorsed on October 7 two bills, pending final approval to be passed as a law, to halt UNRWA’s operations in Israel.

Seven world countries issued a statement on Sunday warning Israel against adopting a proposed Knesset bill banning the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, highlighting the “devastating consequences” of such a move.

The signatories of the joint statement are the foreign ministers of Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.

The seven countries voiced their “grave concern” over the proposed bill in the Israeli Knesset, which they said aims to revoke the “privileges and immunities” of UNRWA “forbidding any contact” between Israel and the UN agency and “prohibiting any UNRWA presence within Israel.

The statement stressed the important work the UN agency conducts within the vulnerable Palestinian community in the occupied territories.

“UNRWA provides essential and life-saving humanitarian aid and basic services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and throughout the region,” the statement read.

[mukelaniot]

REFLECTIONS ON MY COMMUNITY BLOCK: A 4TH YEAR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

As I write what I believe is my last blog of the year, possibly and hopefully the last blog I will ever write as a student, I reflect on my journey in my community block. For the past 5 weeks, I have had the pleasure and the privilege to serve the Cator Manor Community and the people at the Denis Hurley Center. I have to say, I am filled with gratitude to have been exposed to such a community. Not only has it helped shape me as a student, but it has also helped teach me invaluable lessons that I believe will be useful to me as a future health practitioner.

Serving the Cator Manor community, an under-resourced community with most of the people falling in the lower socio-economic status, I encountered and worked with people with various health challenges including, but not limited to hand injuries, strokes, people in need of wheelchairs, and children with ASD. While working in this community, I came to realize that contrary to my preconceived assumptions about community practice, even though the people come from the same community and share similar cultural backgrounds, each of them has their own story. By understanding that, I believe I was then able to fulfill our roles of promoting health and well-being (AOTA,2020), and ensuring people can participate in occupations meaningful to them. Through collaboration with other healthcare practitioners in the clinic, which included, but was not limited to, having joint sessions with physiotherapists, we did our part in fulfilling the aim of holistic care through the Multidisciplinary approach, which optimized outcomes for our clients (Bonder & Dal Santo, 2018). 

Personally, throughout this blog, my favorite task was running group sessions. With the occasional assistance from my colleague, I ran the Women's Support Group, to create a haven for women to share their struggles while creating a community that fosters a sense of universality, and empowerment (Change, 2023). In the Substance Abuse group, I witnessed the power of community support as group members actively supported each other in their recovery journey (Baker, 2024). I learned to utilize the group members who are further along in their recovery road to encourage others by sharing their stories and coping strategies. These 2 projects, I hold dear and am passionate about, as I have personally witnessed a lot of people in need of such groups in my own community, which includes family members of my own.  In a local high school, my colleagues and I ran groups that allowed us to target the youth through mental health promotions, education, and addressing underlying issues at an early age.

However, my journey was not without challenges. At some point during my community block, a colleague and I had a traumatic experience where we were mugged of our personal belongings. It was very hard as we had to go back to that same community. Matters did not get any better when I ran into the of my victimizers in the community at some point, which triggered me as I felt unsafe, frustrated, and frankly, quite vengeful. This led to feelings of PTSD, as I felt unsafe when serving the individuals in the DHC, as I was constantly on edge and in a defensive mode as if someone were to attack me at any time. After realizing how this was impacting how I was serving the community, I started to reconsider the idea of seeking therapy. So, I digest…

Anyway, I am proud to report that throughout this block and academic year, I discovered my ability to be resilient, and to rise above adversity.  As I come a step closer to concluding my training as a student, I plan to take these lessons and acquire the tools I learned along the way to continue to strive to carry the values of Occupational therapy to communities I have yet to serve.

REFERENCES

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (4th ed.). AOTA Press.

Baker, S. (2024, March 1). The Importance of Building a Community in Addiction Recovery. Iron Bridge Recovery Center. https://ironbridgerecovery.com/articles/the-importance-of-building-a-community-in-addiction-recovery/

Bonder, B. R., & Dal Santo, J. (2018). Occupational therapy in community-based practice settings. Jones & Bartlett Learning

Change, A. of. (2023, October 16). Empowerment in Social Work: Techniques and Importance. Agents of Change Social Work Test Prep. https://agentsofchangeprep.com/blog/empowerment-in-social-work-techniques-and-importance/

[tallmantall]

James Donaldson on Mental Health - Focus on mental health every month

Small steps can lead to big progress in mental health. In America today, approximately 1 in 5 Americans is suffering with a mental health issue; and approximately 1 in 25 adults is experiencing a serious mental illness that substantially interferes with one or more major life activities. Left unaddressed, the negative impact will increase. The time to act is now. As CEO of Belmont Pines Hospital, my staff and I have the privilege of serving many members of our community who are experiencing some of the most challenging times of their lives — mental illnesses that are often invisible to the casual observer in ways that physical illnesses are not. As a behavioral health industry, we must build capacity to serve the need by attracting new providers, expanding our workforce, investing in prevention and reducing barriers to care. Since its inception in 1949, May has been designated as Mental Health Awareness Month. This observance provides an opportunity for reflection and action to address the stigma preventing individuals from getting the care they need. The good news is that there is hope and resources for recovery. Today, positive outcomes are not only possible, they are experienced every day. Like chronic physical illness, mental illness can be diagnosed and effectively managed. Individuals who were once in despair can go on to live their best lives. This is highly rewarding and one of many reasons I chose to work in this field. In addition, at the end of April, our nation witnessed a historic achievement regarding suicide prevention. The 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention was published alongside the first-of-its-kind Federal Action Plan which makes the strategy more impactful. The Federal Action Plan directed by The White House places accountability for progress at various departments including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Health and Human Services and others. We look forward to achieving meaningful advancements in suicide prevention under this strategy. #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Link for 40 Habits Signupbit.ly/40HabitsofMentalHealth If you'd like to follow and receive my daily blog in to your inbox, just click on it with Follow It. Here's the link https://follow.it/james-donaldson-s-standing-above-the-crowd-s-blog-a-view-from-above-on-things-that-make-the-world-go-round?action=followPub What else can we do within our communities to recognize the signs of mental health challenges and assist those in need of care and treatment? ?–? Listen and show understanding: If you suspect a loved one is struggling, encourage them to seek professional help. ?–? Share the Crisis Response number 988, a 24 / 7, free and confidential text, chat and talk support line. Military veterans may press ‘1’ for dedicated support. Learn about the implementation of the 988 crisis line in your community this summer. ?–? In case of an acute emergency, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Suicide is often preventable when people at risk receive the support that they need. ?–? Our schools should encourage students to pursue careers in mental health fields, whether through nursing, medical or vocational programs. We need to inspire the next generation of talented professionals. Working together, we can improve the lives of Americans suffering with mental health concerns, not just during this month, but every month in every community across the country. Mental wellness starts here. Read the full article

[getlegalattorney]

Special Benefits for Newlyweds - GetLegal

What are the Special Benefits for Newlyweds?

There are unique set of special benefits for newlyweds as they embark on their journey together. The strengthening of intimate and emotional ties is one important benefit. A lifetime of collaboration begins with marriage, which encourages intimacy and trust between partners.

The special benefits for newlyweds are on the social and cultural fronts as well. Families and friends may offer assistance and motivation to couples as they start this new phase of their lives. Since marriage is frequently regarded as a big milestone and a symbol of commitment, being a part of a married couple can also provide a sense of validation and acceptability within society.

The Legal Benefits of Marriage

Newlyweds who are legally married have a wide range of special benefits in the United States, including:

Employment benefits—health insurance, bereavement leave and family leave

Family benefits:

Adoption rights and joint foster care rights

The right to a portion of jointly owned property upon separation or divorce

Government benefits:

Social Security benefits (you may receive your spouse’s Social Security benefits if you are at least 62 or if you are caring for a child under the age of 16)

Medicare

Disability benefits

VA benefits and public assistance

Tax and estate planning benefits:

the marital tax deduction (you are allowed to transfer any asset to your spouse at any time without paying taxes on that asset)

the option to file joint tax returns, which is especially beneficial If one spouse earns significantly more than the other

the right to inherit your spouse’s estate without paying an estate tax

Medical and death benefits:

The right to visit your spouse in the hospital

The right to make medical decisions for an incapacitated spouse

The right to participate in burial and funeral arrangements

Consumer benefits—discounts to families or couples

The Validation of Same Sex Marriage

In the last twenty years, same-sex couples have been granted greater recognition for their ability to marry under American law. In 2013, the Defense of Marriage Act's definition of marriage as a partnership between a man and a woman was overturned by the United States Supreme Court. Under that verdict, same-sex couples in states where same-sex marriage was legal were eligible for federal benefits. Following Obergefell v. Hodges, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that same-sex couples are entitled to all other financial and legal benefits associated with marriage, including the right to marry.

The Court used the Equal Protection and Due Process sections of the Fourteenth Amendment to establish that states could not refuse to recognize a marriage between same-sex couples if they were granted that privilege. Additionally, it held that states could not refuse to acknowledge legally consummated same-sex unions from another state. Because to this ruling, same-sex unions are legal throughout the entire United States. Before the Obergefell ruling by the Supreme Court, same-sex marriage was legal in thirty-seven states.

Common Law Marriage

A marriage that is recognized by state law without the need for a license, ceremony, or other paperwork is known as a common law marriage. A man and woman who see themselves as husband and wife, or who "hold themselves out as such," enter into a common law marriage. A common law marriage does not have to last for a certain amount of time; rather, it is recognized and acknowledged as such by any two people who regard themselves as married or who simply act as such. Only seven states—Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Texas—clearly still recognize common law marriage as of 2019. Common-law marriage is also recognized in the District of Columba. Common-law unions are only recognized in New Hampshire for the restricted purpose of probate.

Domestic Partnership

Before same-sex couples were granted the ability to marry, they frequently engaged into domestic partnerships, also known as civil unions, which offer some of the same advantages as marriage. A domestic partnership, as contrast to a common law marriage, is usually a formal legal arrangement that needs to be registered in order to be recognized. In domestic partnerships, gender is not a determining factor; nonetheless, partners must be older than eighteen, be unrelated to one another, have never been in a previous domestic relationship, and live together or have a permanent residence. Domestic partners may be entitled for medical leave or health insurance, among other advantages offered to spouses; eligibility may vary based on local legislation. When certain states started to accept same-sex marriage, like Washington, most or all domestic partnerships registered in the state were legally transformed to marriages.

[discoveryesq]

What is a Privilege Log?

What is a privilege log? Other #lawyers have told me it’s a list of privileged documents. No.

At least not if you expect it to be used and accepted by the courts, government agencies, etc. Most require a lot more detail.

Most of the privilege logs I create must:

* Specify if the documents are wholly or partially privileged

* If partially privileged we must redact and specify the redactions are complete

* Specify the privilege type noting that multiple may apply to one document ie) attorney-client privilege, attorney work product, joint defense/ common interest

* Identify the privilege source / the attorney(s)

* We must identify the action giving rise to each privilege type

* For attorney-client we must specify if the lawyer provided advice, if someone requested advice from them, if it was prepared at the request of an attorney, is relaying legal advice, providing info needed to render or request legal advice, transmitted for the purpose of giving or receiving legal advice, etc etc

* If it’s work product we must research and specify the related litigation and if it’s prepared in anticipation of litigation or in the course of the litigation

* Must flag common interest and joint defense privilege scenarios and what entity has the common interest or joint defense agreement

* Specify the document type

* Specify in detail (but not giving away the privileged info) the subject matter of the privileged document

Some may call that making a list; I am not one of those individuals. I hope you like this discovery info as I’m planning to do more with my writing on the subject.

[thxnews]

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps: Supporting UK's Armed Forces

  Putting People First

In his inaugural month as Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps embarked on a mission to underscore the pivotal role of personnel within the British Armed Forces. Emphasizing the enduring significance of servicemen and women, Shapps conducted his maiden visits to the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force, reiterating his unwavering commitment to supporting serving personnel and their families.   Prioritizing Personnel Engagement During these visits, Shapps prioritized meetings with Armed Forces personnel, seeking to gain insight into their experiences and concerns. His primary objective was to assure them that they remained at the core of the nation's defense efforts.  

Shapps' Pledge of Support

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps expressed his gratitude for the dedication and expertise of each member of the Armed Forces. He affirmed his pride in leading this remarkable organization, stressing his dedication to safeguarding the nation's security and prosperity. Simultaneously, he vowed to enhance the experiences of personnel and their families, addressing various aspects, from childcare and accommodation to compensation and equipment.  

A Day Aboard the Royal Navy in Portsmouth

One leg of Shapps' tour took him to the bustling naval base in Portsmouth, where he engaged with serving Navy personnel. Here, he delved into their experiences and the opportunities the service provides. Shapps had the privilege of touring the Type 45 HMS Defender, a vessel that has recently played a central role in joint operations alongside the UK's allies. Notably, the ship had completed four operations and four exercises in the year preceding its refit, including the pivotal Exercise Formidable Shield. The Defence Secretary received briefings on Navy priorities and held discussions with representatives from BAE Systems, a vital defense partner supporting numerous jobs and livelihoods across the UK.  

A Visit to Salisbury Plain: Meeting the Army

Journeying to Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, Shapps, accompanied by Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders, met with British soldiers at the heart of a UK-led training program. This initiative has successfully trained more than 26,500 Ukrainian recruits to date. Shapps heard inspiring stories from these soldiers and observed world-leading training practices before receiving briefings on the Army's priorities, particularly its modernization efforts.  

Taking to the Skies with the Royal Air Force

At RAF Waddington, Shapps, accompanied by Chief of the Air Staff, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, actively engaged with personnel serving at the station. This included those from 51 and XIII Squadrons, who are responsible for operating Rivet Joint and Reaper Aircraft, respectively. During this visit, the Defence Secretary listened attentively to their experiences and took note of the recent accomplishments of the Royal Air Force. Additionally, he received briefings on the RAF's intelligence-gathering roles crucial for national defense.  

Unseen Guardians of Defense: Strategic Command

Strategic Command, headquartered at Northwood, London, and under the leadership of General Sir Jim Hockenhull, plays a pivotal role in providing often-unnoticed elements of defense. During his meeting with General Jim, the Defence Secretary was briefed on the work carried out by specialists within the organization, including cyber operators, intelligence analysts, medics, and logisticians. Strategic Command's integration of capabilities across defense ensures that the Armed Forces stand ready to respond at any time and in any place. Shapps discussed the multitude of ongoing initiatives aimed at attracting, upskilling, and retaining individuals, particularly those with expertise in science, digital, and technical fields.  

A Visit to Kyiv: Reinforcing Support for Ukraine

This week, in a significant development, the Defence Secretary extended his reach beyond the UK, embarking on a journey to Kyiv alongside Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. The primary purpose of this noteworthy visit was to emphatically reiterate the UK's steadfast and unwavering support for Ukraine during these challenging times.   Chief of the Defence Staff's Perspective Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, expressed his satisfaction with the Secretary of State's visit, underscoring its significance in the context of the evolving global security landscape. Furthermore, he highlighted the UK's substantial investments in its Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy, clearly outlining plans for increased lethality and strength within NATO. Admiral Radakin also touched upon the transition to fifth-generation aircraft in the Royal Air Force and advancements in space capabilities. Ultimately, he credited the commitment and skill of the Armed Forces, as well as their international and industry partnerships, for safeguarding the nation. In conclusion, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps' initial month in office has been characterized by a strong emphasis on personnel and their importance in the broader defense strategy. As he tours military bases and engages with servicemen and women, Shapps leaves no doubt about his dedication to ensuring their well-being.   Sources: THX News, Ministry of Defence & The Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP. Read the full article

[ailtrahq]

In a recent development, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) unsealed court filings related to the ongoing litigation against Binance.US and BAM Management US Holdings Inc.  The filings provide insights into the defendants’ responses and objections to the plaintiff’s first requests to produce documents and inspection. Doubts About Binance.US Full Collateralization The court filings reveal that the SEC has expressed reservations about Binance.US’s ability to ensure full collateralization of customer assets at certain critical junctures.  This finding was based on an audit conducted by Binance.US’s auditor, who reportedly encountered significant challenges verifying the platform’s complete collateralization. The SEC’s concerns highlight potential risks to investors and the need for increased transparency and regulatory oversight in the cryptocurrency industry. Collateralization is a crucial aspect of cryptocurrency trading platforms, ensuring that reserves adequately back customer assets. Maintaining full collateralization is essential for the security and stability of the platform, as it guarantees that customers’ funds can be readily accessed and withdrawn when needed.  Any shortcomings in collateralization practices could expose users to potential losses and undermine market confidence. The unsealed court filings also reveal that the SEC has requested extensive documentation and inspection of Binance.US’s internal processes and records.  However, Binance.US has raised objections to several aspects of the SEC’s requests. The platform has argued that certain demands are “overly broad, unduly burdensome, or duplicative” of previous discovery requests and subpoenas in the ongoing litigation.  Furthermore, BAM’s (Binance.US parent company) legal counsel has expressed readiness to discuss with the plaintiff to resolve any disputes concerning the requests’ meaning, scope, relevance, or BAM’s responses and objections. Objections Raised BAM raises objections regarding preserving and producing electronically stored information (ESI) and documents not stored on active systems but on backup tapes or other media no longer in their possession, custody, or control.  They claim that such ESI is not reasonably accessible and would impose significant search, preserve, and access costs. BAM asserts that they are not obligated to search such sources in response to the requests. In addition, Binance.US asserts the protection of various privileges, including the attorney-client privilege, work-product doctrine, joint-defense or common-interest privilege, and applicable domestic or foreign laws.  They maintain that the requests seek information or documents covered by these privileges or other protections, and their response should not be construed as a waiver of those privileges. The company also contests requests seeking the production of trade secrets or information that is confidential, proprietary, commercially sensitive, or competitively significant to them or any affiliates. They argue that the disclosure of such information could have adverse effects on their business operations. It is important to note that BAM’s responses and objections to the specific requests have not been detailed in the unsealed court filings. However, the filings emphasize that BAM intends to withhold responsive materials based on its objections to each request, except where indicated otherwise.  Despite their objections, BAM expresses a willingness to engage in discussions with the plaintiff regarding the requests. These disclosures raise important questions regarding the scope of document production, the burden imposed on the defendants, and the applicability of various privileges and protections. As the litigation progresses, further developments are expected to provide more insights into the case. BNB’s losing all the gains of the 24-hour time frame on the daily chart. Source: BNBUSDT on TradingView.com Source